The husband of a woman who stabbed her three children to death before killing herself is now suing the doctor and hospital that oversaw her care.
Katica Perinovic, 42, killed her children Claire, 7, Anna, 5, and Matthew, 3, one by one before killing herself at their home in Tullamarine, northwest of Melbourne, on January 14, 2021.
Their father, Tomislav Perinovic, was buying a new television set for his family when the tragedy occurred.
His wife was suffering from psychosis when she murdered her children.
Mr Perinovic has since filed a writ in the High Court alleging negligence by his wife's GP, Dr Abid-Ur Rahman, and Melbourne Health, which operates as NorthWestern Mental Health.
Arnold Thomas & Becker managing partner Lee Flanagan said Mr Perinovic had suffered a “traumatic experience”.
Katica Perinovic, 42, killed her children Claire, 7, Anna, 5, and Matthew, 3, one by one before killing herself at their home in Tullamarine, northwest of Melbourne, on January 14, 2021
“We have filed a claim against the hospital and the doctor where the woman sought treatment,” he said.
“Our investigation will seek to determine whether the two defendants were negligent in the treatment and management of the woman's mental health.”
The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Perinovic suffered “serious psychiatric injuries.”
His wife was in Dr.'s care between November 9, 2020 and January 14, 2021 – the day of the tragedy – according to the lawsuit. Rahman and NWMH.
Mr Perinovic has previously spoken out about the decline of his wife's mental health.
She resigned out of nowhere at the end of 2020 from the clinic where she had worked as a physiotherapist for 16 years, and had suffered mentally during Melbourne's lockdowns.
She went to her local doctor after feeling anxious, paranoid and exhausted.
She was referred to the mental health unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, NWMH. After her second appointment she was given medication
Tomislav Perinovic has taken legal action against the hospital and the doctor who oversaw his wife's care
Less than a month before the tragedy, Ms. Perinovic overdosed on her medications.
She refused to go to the hospital and told her doctor the next day that she just wanted to sleep.
The NWMH was not notified of the overdose until after her death.
When Mr Perinovic arrived home on the day of the tragedy, he found his bloodied son in the front lounge with injuries to his head and arm.
Unaware that the rest of his family lay dead in another room, he called Triple 0.
As paramedics worked on Matthew, Mr Perinovic went into the rear living room and saw what his wife had done.
“They're all dead,” he told the paramedics.
A coroner's report into Ms Perinovic's death was released in November last year.
Coroner Audrey Jamieson said she could not say 'with any degree of certainty' that the mother's death was preventable.
“However, I believe that the mental health care Katica Perinovic received is not optimal under the circumstances,” she stated.
'I acknowledge and accept that appropriate remedial and preventative measures have been taken by NorthWestern Mental Health since the fatal incident.'
Judge Jamieson made no findings on the impact Victoria's lockdowns had in contributing to Ms Perinovic's sudden mental illness, or those assigned to help her.
“I believe that opportunities to intervene were missed in the course of the events that preceded and led to the death of Katica Perinovic,” she stated.
Father Tomislav Perinovic (left), the children and Mrs. Perinovic. Mr Perinovic is devastated by the tragedy
The Royal Melbourne Hospital offered its condolences to the Perinovic family in a statement.
“Our staff is solemnly and sincerely committed to the safety and care of our clients,” the statement said.
'Melbourne Health (NorthWestern Mental Health) participated fully in the coronal investigation and has carefully considered the published findings.
“Given that we are aware that Mr Perinovic has commenced legal proceedings in the High Court against Melbourne Health, it would not be appropriate to comment further whilst that process is ongoing.”
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