Statement for Australian Story
From Mark Woodhead, father of Easton Woodhead
After almost two and a half years since the tragic and senseless death of Morgan Wayne
Perry, Easton will be transferred from a prison facility to a mental health facility whereby
education of, and treatment for his condition can commence. To Mr Perry’s family and
friends we offer our deepest condolences and understand their frustration and anger at the
untimely death of their loved one.
On the morning of January 5th 2014, the worlds of two people “living rough” collided.
Morgan Perry was regarded to be homeless whilst Easton was residing in a filthy unkempt
apartment, providing shelter but could not be regarded to be a “home”. For many months
leading up to Mr Perry’s death Easton was isolated from his family and through significant
substance abuse accelerated the onset of an initial schizophrenic episode. We learnt during
the trial via expert testimony that undiagnosed initial psychotic episodes, such as Easton
experienced, are highly likely to result in either the suicide of the person afflicted or for
them to commit a violent act on another. Easton was found to not be able to regulate his
emotions and suffered a complete breakdown in his logical thought process; rendering him
unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his violent act at that time.
The primary concern of the Woodhead family is that Easton’s mental health is thoroughly
assessed and treated over an extended period. Now recovered, Easton has expressed
regularly, deep remorse for what occurred to Mr Perry and has been deeply shocked that he
came to be capable of such violence. Easton has expressed an understanding that his
mental health is something that he will have to deal with for the rest of his life and he has
embraced the idea of his family as his core support group.
We do not expect there to be a “quick fix” in Easton’s full recovery and that his full
rehabilitation can only be achieved incrementally over an extended period of time. In this
regard, his family will play an active and constructive role. Perhaps Easton’s experience may
enlighten other young people and their families to the sort of outcome possible if certain
circumstances prevail and the “invulnerable” young person becomes isolated.
The family wishes again to express our deepest sympathy to Mr Perry’s family and friends
for the pain they have suffered as a result of this senseless and tragic episode.