Schizophrenia Led to Father's Tragic Killing

In a tragic case, a 20-year-old man has been committed to an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm. He admitted to murdering his 57-year-old father, Smad Samir Botros Farag, with a hammer and knife, and also injuring a woman and an 11-year-old boy during the same incident on April 1, 2025.

The court heard that the defendant, Fabio Botros, suffered from severe mental health issues, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, which a judge determined directly caused the fatal attack on his father. Prior to the killing, Botros's mental state had significantly worsened, compounded by an initial misdiagnosis of autism and depression. This misdiagnosis led to a reduction in his prescribed anti-psychotic medication.

On the day of the incident, police responding to the family's Brighton home found two injured individuals outside the address – a woman with significant knife wounds and a boy with a head injury. Mr. Botros was pronounced dead at the scene due to a severe head injury. Botros was apprehended and charged the following day.

Her Honour Judge Christine Laing KC remarked on the tragic irony that a reduction in medication, based on an incorrect diagnosis, ultimately contributed to the father's death. In the weeks preceding the attack, Botros had become withdrawn, ceased attending college, spoke to himself, and exhibited behavior consistent with hallucinations.