The appellant, who suffered from bipolar disorder, was arrested and placed in a detention centre where he killed his cellmate.
He was found not guilty by reason of mental disorder and committed for eight years.
He sued the police and detention centre for negligence in failing to obtain a psychiatric assessment or provide timely medication.
The trial judge dismissed the action.
On appeal, the Court of Appeal found that while the trial judge made some legal errors in interpreting the Mental Health Act and the test for systemic negligence, there was no palpable and overriding error in his factual findings that the respondents met the standard of care and that any breach did not cause the damages.
The appeal was dismissed.
