An Australian woman who killed eight children in a stabbing attack at her home will not stand trial because she was of “unsound mind” at the time.
Raina Thaiday was experiencing a psychotic episode when she turned on her four sons, three daughters and a niece in Cairns in December 2014.
The legal decision – made last month but only now made public – means she cannot be held criminally responsible.
Thaiday, 40, is being held at a high-security centre in Brisbane.
It is unclear if she will ever be released back into the community.
The house where the children, aged between two and 14, were killed has been demolished. It has been replaced with a park to remember Malili, Angelina, Shantae, Rayden, Azariah, Daniel, Rodney and Patrenella.
Thaiday, also known as Mersane Warria, had been charged with the children’s murders but Queensland’s Mental Health Court ruled she should not stand trial.
Experts said before the killings she had never been treated for mental illness.
Several psychiatrists testified that it was likely that Thaiday’s mental state had deteriorated in the months beforehand.
