An Afghan asylum seeker and murderer has died at a Canberra mental health facility.

On 9 September, 37-year-old man Wajiid Kakar died at the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit (Dhulwa), in Symonston.  

Mr Kakar appeared before the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday 31 August, charged with murdering his housemate Michael Allen Clement Williams with a meat cleaver and attempting to murder a housemate and a woman in Page in February 2021.

The Supreme Court entered special verdicts of not guilty by way of mental impairment.

The Supreme Court ordered that Mr Kakar be detained in custody for immediate review by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT).

On 4 September, Mr Kakar was placed into the care of Dhulwa, a medium security facility for people involved with the criminal justice system. 

On the evening of 8 September, Mr Kakar suffered what appears to be a medical episode, and was declared deceased in the early hours of 9 September.

The ACT Coroner is investigating his death.  

As the death is a death in custody, a hearing must be held at a future date.