Alleged hospital murderer said it was 'self-defence', new documents reveal

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains graphic content that may be upsetting.

New details have been released about an alleged murder in a mental health unit in 2022.

Aleu Mapiou, a then-18-year-old from Bonner, and 38-year-old Dusko Culibrk were both patients in Canberra Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Unit in November 2022 when Mapiou allegedly murdered Mr Culibrk.

On Monday (26 August), Mapiou’s lawyer pled not guilty by reason of mental impairment on behalf of his client in the ACT Supreme Court.

According to court documents, police arrived at Mapiou’s house after a family member called them.

They arrived at about 11:06 am on 11 November 2022 and spoke to another family member who told police Mapiou had been walking back and forth while holding a knife, saying, “‘We are all going to die and nothing matters”.

This behaviour was out of character for Mapiou, they told police.

When police tried to speak with Mapiou over a 30-minute period, he allegedly would only respond in incomplete sentences and gradually became agitated.

Police took him to The Canberra Hospital, arriving at about 12:30 pm.

During an assessment performed by a nurse as part of the intake process, she wrote that she believed he was suffering “first episode psychosis”. He was ultimately involuntarily detained at the hospital and admitted into the mental health unit.

During a visit from his ex-girlfriend on the evening of 11 November, Mapiou allegedly told her he was scared of Mr Culibrk, who was staring at the two and repeatedly walking past them while laughing during her visit.

“‘He knows. Like, he can see through everything. He’s intelligent and, like, I’m scared of him,'” Mapiou is quoted as saying in court documents.

The documents state Mapiou and Mr Culibrk watched television and spoke with each other from about 9:45 pm until about 10 pm that evening, when Mr Culibrk went to speak with another patient.

Afterwards, Mapiou and Mr Culibrk were reportedly seen in the television lounge several times watching television while the nurses did their scheduled rounds.

However, at about 11:15 pm, two nurses said Mapiou and Mr Culibrk were no longer in the television room. Instead, Mapiou’s room was empty, while the door to Mr Culibrk’s room was closed.

A nurse then says she saw Mapiou allegedly carrying Mr Culibrk’s body, with Mr Culibrk’s head “slumped” on his shoulder. A Code Blue (an emergency resuscitation call) was activated, followed by a Code Black (for an assault call).

After the door to Mr Culibrk’s room was opened, Mapiou allegedly ran from the room and said, “That was self-defence, that was self-defence”.

Nursing staff started CPR and other resuscitation efforts on Mr Culibrk, which are said to have carried on for more than 50 minutes. Mr Culibrk was declared dead at about 12:21 am.

Meanwhile, another staff member allegedly tried to bring Mapiou into the de-escalation suite, but he refused. He allegedly paced around the television lounge and briefly went to the doorway of Mr Culibrk’s room while CPR was being carried out.

Several staff members said they were ultimately able to take Mapiou to the de-escalation suite, where he was restrained and sedated.

A nurse called police shortly after 12 am, with police arriving at about 12:19 am. At about 1:10 am, police arrested Mapiou, taking him into custody.

An autopsy on Mr Culibrk listed his cause of death as multiple blunt-force head and neck injuries, with a “likely asphyxia component”.

These injuries were allegedly “of a type typically seen in interpersonal violence with [the] use of hands, fists, feet and other parts of the [alleged] assailant’s body, and impacts against surfaces”.

Mapiou was accused of murdering Mr Culibrk, pleaded not guilty, then was committed for trial last year, with his two-week trial scheduled to start on Monday.

However, the matter was adjourned several times in the lead-up to the scheduled start date before prosecutors agreed to accept a special verdict. Justice Belinda Baker must now determine if the court accepts the plea.

On Monday, the court heard both the defence and prosecution would call on expert witnesses for their testimony later this week.

If you need help, or someone you know does, you can contact:

Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or Kids Helpline
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978 or MensLine.

In a life-threatening emergency, call triple zero.