A mental health patient murdered a refugee and cut off his penis hours after being released from a psychiatric hospital.

Jeffrey Barry, 56, stabbed to death his neighbour Kamil Ahmad, 49, at his flat on Wells Road in Bristol at about 2am on July 7 last year.

The murder took place hours after Barry, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was released from a psychiatric hospital.

Bristol Crown Court heard psychiatrists had opposed Barry's released, but a mental health tribunal ruled that he should be discharged.

Barry told a community psychiatric nurse he was "criminally insane" in a phone call he made minutes before the fatal attack.

But police discovered a note in his room reading: "The fact is, I have acted out my entire psychiatric history. I'm very well. Sorry."

A jury unanimously convicted Barry, who is being held at Broadmoor Hospital, of murder following a two-week trial.

Speaking outside court, Mr Ahmad's family described the Kurdish refugee as "a deeply loved member of our family".

"We have one question: why was Kamil not protected by the authorities from this violent racist?" they said.

"We call on all the authorities to give an honest answer to this question without delay, so that Kamil can rest in peace and so that other vulnerable people are protected."

Tony Murphy of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, which is representing the family, described the murder as "preventable".

Barry was racist towards Mr Ahmad after he moved into the Wells Road flats, which are run by Milestones Trust for adults requiring support.

On May 24 last year he told support workers he wanted to be notorious and murder a member of the public, adding: "Kamil would be top of my list."

He wrote a note saying he planned to kill people living in the house, including Mr Ahmad.

In a phone call to police on May 25 last year, Barry claimed Mr Ahmad was a rapist, a thief, a paedophile and a terrorist.

Barry had relapsed after he stopped taking anti-psychotic drug clozapine in November 2015.

He was drinking heavily, smoking skunk cannabis and behaving in a sexually inappropriate manner.

On June 13, Barry was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after being filmed on CCTV performing a sex act, wearing only a police hat.

He was taken to Callington Road Hospital in Bristol before being transferred to the Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke in Weston-super-Mare.

A mental health tribunal ruled on June 28 that Barry could be released, after he promised not to drink or take drugs.

In a statement, Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke said the decision to discharge Barry was taken by the tribunal.

"It is vitally important that all parties involved in such decisions review this case to ensure that lessons are learned for the future," a spokesman said.

At the close of Barry's trial, prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam QC told the jury there were "failings in the system".

"Whether the reasons are down to the system, or an individual, or a combination of both, you might feel that Kamil Ahmad was let down," he said.

"It is a system designed to protect an individual and protect society. I don't ask you to hold this against this defendant.

"Although he was manipulative and dishonest with the doctors in the tribunal, he is not to blame for failings in the system."

The court heard the tribunal was unaware of how long Barry had been off clozapine, of his recent relapse, or of concerns raised by Milestones Trust staff.

Dr Roger Thomas, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said Barry should have been detained for further assessment.

Staff at the Milestones Trust were only informed of the decision to release Barry a few hours before he returned to Wells Road.

They attempted to get an injunction to prevent him from doing so, in an attempt to protect Mr Ahmad, but there was insufficient time.

John Hoskinson, chief executive of Milestones Trust, said investigations including an internal review were being conducted.

"We do understand this is a very difficult time for those involved but are unable to comment further until the results of these investigations are known," he said.

Barry arrived in Bristol at about 5.30pm on July 6 and went to two bars, where he consumed at least a litre of rum.

He used a telephone in the flats to call a helpline at 1am on July 7, telling a community psychiatric nurse he felt like "punching somebody".

Joanne Wood, the nurse, told Barry it was not acceptable to hit people and to be responsible for his actions.

"He responded by saying that he was criminally insane and not responsible for his actions, and ended the call," Ms Wood told the court.

A spokesman for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust described the murder as "tragic and brutal".

"We remain committed to close co-operation with all agencies in an effort to prevent such an event happening in the future," he said.

CCTV images showed Barry knocking on Mr Ahmad's door at 1.30am and leaving, covered in blood, at 2.15am.

Neighbour Anthony Brink heard Mr Ahmad say "oh no, it's you" and screaming after Barry went into the flat.

Barry later called 999 and reported he had killed Mr Ahmad, stating: "Course it's murder isn't it? I'm going to say diminished responsibility."

A post-mortem examination found Mr Ahmad had suffered injuries to his face, head and neck - with 25 stab wounds to his face and eyes.

There were fatal stab wounds to his stomach, right arm and left wrist. His penis had been cut off after death.

A Safeguarding Adults Review has been commissioned to examine the circumstances of Mr Ahmad's murder.

The trial heard Mr Ahmad suffered facial injuries after apparently being attack by Barry in December 2013.

In April last year, he told police he felt scared of the defendant.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Ocone, of Avon and Somerset Police, described Barry as "an exceptionally dangerous man".

Barry will be sentenced on November 10.

By Claire Hayhurst.