A woman has been charged in relation to the suspected suicide of a Waikato man who was found dead after fleeing escorted leave from a mental health facility. Police confirmed that a 27-year-old woman has been charged with entering into a suicide pact in the pursuance of which Rhys Thomassen died. About two weeks before his death, Rhys ran away from a group of patients while on escorted leave. Family were not happy with the draft report from the Waikato DHB into Rhys' death, Thomassen said. Thomassen is one of several families calling for an independent review into the Waikato District Health Board's acute mental health services.

Source: Stuff June 14, 2020 20:26 UTC