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The father of three children killed by their mother in a murder suicide is taking legal action claiming his wife\u2019s doctor was negligent in treating her mental health condition.<\/p>\n
Tom Perinovic returned home from buying a new television in January 2021 to find his wife, Katica, and three young children, Claire, 7, Anna, 5, and Matthew, 3, dead inside their Tullamarine home.<\/p>\n
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The Perinovic family.<\/span><\/p>\n Perinovic was initially treated as a suspect by police and taken away in handcuffs, but released the next day without charge.<\/p>\n The case sparked an outpouring of grief in the local community who came by the home to leave flowers and messages.<\/p>\n In a brief writ filed with the Supreme Court last week, Perinovic claims that he has suffered severe psychiatric injury as a result of the death of his family, caused in part by the negligence of Dr Abid-ur Rahman and NorthWestern Mental Health Service.<\/p>\n \u201c[Perinovic\u2019s] injuries were caused by \u2026 the negligence of [Dr Rahman] and\/or the [Melbourne Health] in the treatment and management of [Katica\u2019s] mental health,\u201d the claim says.<\/p>\n Arnold Thomas & Becker managing partner Lee Flanagan, who is representing Perinovic, said the case was in its early stages.<\/p>\n \u201cOur investigations in respect of this tragic case are ongoing and we and our client will have more to say in the new year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Representatives for Dr Rahman and North Western Mental Health have been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n Before the incident, Katica, a physiotherapist, had abruptly left her job and began treatment after displaying symptoms of paranoia and anxiety.<\/p>\n A tribute left at the scene.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Jason South<\/cite><\/p>\n She had been under the care, court documents say, of Rahman from November 9, 2020 to January 14, 2021.<\/p>\n Coroner Audrey Jamieson found the treatment given to Katica, who was suffering from \u201cfirst-episode psychosis\u201d and not adhering to her medication regime, was suboptimal but stopped short of linking her death to the care of Rahman.<\/p>\n \u201cI find no causal link between North Western Mental Health and Dr Abid-ur Rahman\u2019s treatment of Katica Perinovic and her decision to take her own life and that of her children,\u201d Jamieson found last year.<\/p>\n \u201cI do, however, find that the mental health treatment that was provided to Katica Perinovic to be suboptimal in the circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cI acknowledge and accept appropriate restorative and preventative measures have been taken by North Western Mental Health since the fatal incident.<\/p>\n \u201cI find that there were missed opportunities to intervene in the course of the events preceding and leading up to [the children and Katica\u2019s] death,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In November 2020 Katica was referred to a mental health service, prescribed medication and had frequent phone calls with clinicians. The court heard that Katica had become suspicious of colleagues and worried her husband wanted to separate.<\/p>\n Three days before the deaths, Katica missed an appointment with a mental health specialist. When she was contacted by the clinic the next day, she said she was okay and rescheduled for later that month. Two days later, she and her children were dead.<\/p>\n Perinovic told the coroner his wife was a caring physiotherapist who helped patients over many years, but when she needed help, the mental health system failed her.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a huge shame that she was not provided the same level of care she deserved in her time of most need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no words to describe how a mother could do such an awful thing to her own children. This has devastated me, my family, friends and the community forever. Rest in peace, my little angels.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n