Walsh was stabbed 20 times 14 months ago by his 27-year-old son, Cy Jacob Walsh.

The court ruled Cy was not intoxicated by drugs when he attacked his father but was an undiagnosed, untreated schizophrenic.

The court found the fatal assault was driven by mental illness.     

The verdict means Cy will not face trial or receive a jail sentence.

Justice Anne Bampton ordered Cy spend the rest of his life under a limiting term - a period of mental health supervision which is equal to a jail term a mentally well person would serve. 

He is expected to remain in a secure mental health facility where he has been held since stabbing his father on June 3, 2015.

The ruling means Cy could be released to the community if doctors agree that would be beneficial to him.

But for that to happen he would be need to be under strict supervision and receiving ongoing treatment.

Prosecutor Lucy Boord said three forensic psychiatrists agreed Cy was mentally incompetent at the time of the offence.

Cy’s mother Meredith said in a statement:

“There were two occasions that doctors told Cy, a mentally ill patient, to continue to take his medications,” she said.

“Because he was an adult, the medical profession — as the law allows — didn’t involve any other person with his health care because he was classified as an adult.

“This is where privacy issues must be reviewed in these types of cases where someone’s mental state is gradually escalating and putting themselves or others at risk.

“Family need to be informed of what people need and to be advised of the importance of them being compliant.”