Pubdate: Tue, 25 May 2004
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2004 Allied Press Limited
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/otago
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Author: Chris Morris

BROCKVILLE HOMICIDES: THE AFTERMATH MERCER 'NOT SEEN AS SIGNIFICANT RISK'

Kelvin Mercer was voluntarily receiving treatment for his cannabis smoking 
habit at Dunedin Hospital and was showing signs of improvement before 
allegedly killing his estranged wife and their 6-month-old baby, it was 
confirmed yesterday.

Otago District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau said Mr Mercer 
had attended three sessions of a drug and alcohol treatment service at 
Dunedin Hospital.

His last was on Wednesday evening, the night before police believe he 
killed his estranged wife, Wendy Mercer, and their baby boy, Will Mercer.

He had referred himself to the drug and alcohol programme on May 6, in an 
effort to maintain access to his children, Mr Rousseau said. He was showing 
signs of improvement and a willingness to continue the programme the night 
before the Ettrick St deaths.

At no time did Mr Mercer display symptoms of psychotic or depressive 
disorder and his cannabis use was not considered a warning of events to 
come, he said.

"Cannabis use is not unusual in New Zealand . . . are you saying every 
cannabis user has the potential to commit murder? I don't think you can 
come to that conclusion.

"This person was not seen as being a significant risk," he said.

A work colleague claimed on television last night Kelvin Mercer choked 
unconscious a colleague at the PPCS plant in Mosgiel two months ago. 
Speaking on Holmes , PPCS worker Don Miller said Mr Mercer had undergone an 
anger management programme after the incident.

Mr Mercer's actions - placing his victim in a "sleeper hold" until he 
passed out - had left his victim unconscious for about 30 seconds, Mr 
Miller said.

"He knew he did wrong; he even admitted he did, and he went to anger 
management over it," Mr Miller said.

Mr Mercer had arrived for work early last Thursday morning distraught and 
had confessed to "keying" the car that belonged to Wendy Mercer's new 
boyfriend, Mr Miller said. About 6am, he had broken down and confessed he 
felt like going to Mrs Mercer's Ettrick St home and "smashing their heads 
in", Mr Miller said.

After trying to reason with him, Mr Miller sent Mr Mercer home with advice 
to seek help.

"I looked in his face and you did not know where he was," Mr Miller said.

Just over an hour later, Mr Mercer was pulled badly burned, but at that 
stage still alive, from the home that also contained the bodies of Mrs 
Mercer and the couple's son, Will.

Mr Mercer died in Middlemore Hospital in Auckland on Saturday, two days 
after he received burns to 40% of his body.

Mr Miller last night said Mr Mercer had never spoken badly of his estranged 
wife, despite disputes over custody and visiting rights for his children. 
He had been a regular user of marijuana but had all but given up using the 
drug.

"I think there's more to this than just a jealous ex-husband.

"There's only two people that know what happened but, sadly enough, they 
are not going to be here, ever," Mr Miller said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom