Two dead in Australia psychiatric unit stabbing: police

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Australian police laid murder charges against a 49-year-old male patient on Thursday over a stabbing rampage at a secure psychiatric hospital that left two people dead.

Peko Lakovski was charged with two counts of murder after reportedly attacking his room-mate Raymond Splatt with a kitchen knife late on Wednesday, before turning on another patient who was in bed at the time.

Splatt, 54 was stabbed several times in the upper body while the body of the second man Paul Notas, 36, was found in another room at the low-security centre. The motive for the attack was unknown.

"It's my understanding that both the victims and offender were in the facility after committing the offence of murder," Detective Sergeant Wayne Cheesman told reporters.

"I know the room-mate and the offender were considered quite friendly," he added. "They would often go out on day pass and leave and go fishing together, and what brought on the altercation, we don't know."

Detective James Ronke told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Lakovski had used a carving knife in the attack.

Notas had initially managed to escape, taking refuge in another bedroom, but Lakovski followed and again stabbed him, he added.

Police said Notas was alive when they arrived in response to a duress alarm at the hospital, but he died a short time later.

Melbourne's 118-bed Thomas Embling Hospital was purpose-built to house patients referred by the criminal justice system.

Ruth Vine, Victoria state's chief psychiatrist said killings were "very, very uncommon" at the hospital.

State Premier John Brumby said a full inquiry was under way.

"Thomas Embling has got a critical role but a very important role and it?s a very challenging role in terms of the people they look after there," Brumby said.

"Was everything being done properly and as it should have been? All that will be examined."