Melbourne man killed by stepson in psychosis-induced stabbing

Tony Di Falco, a 61-year-old cancer survivor, was stabbed to death by his stepson, Mehmet Bertan, at his home in Hillside, Melbourne, on October 4, 2024. During court proceedings in the Victorian Supreme Court, Bertan’s family and legal representatives detailed the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Bertan, 34, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was reportedly experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the killing. Prosecutors noted that six weeks prior to the incident, Bertan had experienced a psychotic episode involving a plan to set himself on fire to distract perceived thieves from the family home.

While psychiatric experts agreed Bertan was experiencing psychosis, they were divided on his level of awareness regarding his mental state at the time of the attack. Bertan opted not to pursue a mental impairment defence.