Man who shot dead three people applies for ‘brief periods’ of release from mental health facility

An Adelaide man who shot dead his neighbour and neighbour’s relatives visiting from South Africa 10 years ago has applied for “brief periods” of release into the community.

Donato Anthony Corbo killed his neighbour Luc Mombers and Mr Mombers’ parents-in-law Korbus and Annetjie Snyman, who were visiting from South Africa in April 2011.

Mr Mombers’ wife Rika Mombers and teenage son Marcel survived the ordeal at Hectorville in Adelaide, as did two police officers who were injured when they attended the scene.

In 2012, Corbo was found not guilty of three counts of murder, two of attempted murder and one of aggravated threatening life by reason of mental incompetence.

Since then, the 49-year-old has been detained at mental health facility James Nash House.

But Corbo’s lawyer Trish Johnson today applied to the Supreme Court for “brief periods of escorted leave” into the community.

“There are certainly grounds to seek this progression at this stage.”

The Supreme Court has ordered three mental health reports “to get as much understanding as possible” about Corbo.

The matter will return to court in November.

In 2012, the court heard Luc Mombers had left South Africa because of the high crime and that South Africans would think twice about visiting Australia because of this case.

The court also heard Luc Mombers and his wife had been happily married for 19 years but that had been taken away in a moment, despite doing nothing to Corbo to deserve the tragedy.

“I could not believe anyone would do something so horrible and heartless,” she said at the time.

“I want the accused to know he has destroyed our lives and happiness.”