Boy, 15, who battered mother to death detained for at least five years – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2011 in diminished responsibility, homicide, mental health, news, sentencing, young offenders by tracey

“James Gethen, now 16, was given an indeterminate detention order by a judge at Leeds crown court, who heard he had significant psychiatric problems at the time he killed his mother Ann, 39. Gethen was told he must serve at least five years before he is considered for release.”

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The Guardian, 15th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inspection link to inmate’s death – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2011 in death in custody, mental health, news, ombudsmen, prisons, suicide by sally

“A report into the death of a prisoner has suggested he was moved from a jail – where he felt safe – because an inspection was due to take place.”

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BBC News, 10th December 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Moors murderer Ian Brady to face public hearing – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2011 in mental health, news, transfer of prisoners by tracey

“Moors murderer Ian Brady will face a public hearing on whether he should be returned to prison.”

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BBC News, 9th December 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Modaresi) v Secretary of State for Health and others – WLR Daily

Posted November 25th, 2011 in law reports, mental health, service, time limits, tribunals by sally

Regina (Modaresi) v Secretary of State for Health and others [2011] EWCA Civ 1359; [2011] WLR (D) 340

“The 14-day period allowed to a detained mental patient to lodge an application with the Mental Health Review Tribunal as provided by section 66 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and rule 32(1) the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) Rules 2008 was not to be considered to have expired where, though sent by fax on the last working day within the period, it was not in fact received by the tribunal until the next working after an intervening holiday period during which the 14-day time limit had expired.”

WLR Daily, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Killings by mental health patients in Swindon were preventable, say reports – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in crime prevention, homicide, mental health, news by sally

“A raft of failings by mental health teams and managers contributed to three shocking killings in the same town in the space of four months, investigators have concluded.”

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why was my dangerous mentally ill brother free to kill my parents? – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 21st, 2011 in families, homicide, mental health, news by tracey

“An independent inquiry is expected to criticise failings by mental health services which could have prevented the deaths of an elderly couple from Swindon, who were killed by their son. Their bereaved daughter Janice Lawrence tells how she fears crucial lessons will not be learnt.”

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Daily Teelgraph, 20th November 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Review critical of Cardiff killer Leyton Williams’ care – BBC News

Posted November 17th, 2011 in homicide, mental health, news, recidivists, reports by tracey

“A violent man with a history of mental illness went on to kill months after being released from prison without any supervision or care, says a report.”

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BBC News, 17th November 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cheshire West and Chester Council v P (by his litigation friend the Official Solicitor) – WLR Daily

Posted November 14th, 2011 in disabled persons, human rights, law reports, mental health, restraint by sally

Cheshire West and Chester Council v P (by his litigation friend the Official Solicitor) [2011] EWCA Civ 1257; [2011] WLR (D) 325

“In determining whether or not there was a deprivation of liberty, it was legitimate to have regard both the objective ‘reason’ why someone was placed and treated as they were and also the objective ‘purpose’ or ‘aim’ of the placement. For adults with disabilities, whose lives were dictated by their own cognitive and other limitations, the question whether they had been deprived of liberty fell to be determined by comparing their situation with that of an adult of similar age with the same capabilities, affected by the same condition or suffering the same inherent mental and physical disabilities and limitations.”

WLR Daily, 9th November 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Psychiatric patient loses groundbreaking appeal – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2011 in appeals, detention, mental health, news, tribunals by sally

“The first psychiatric patient to have an appeal against detention heard in public lost his legal battle to be freed from Broadmoor hospital on Wednesday.”

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The Guardian, 26th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Madonna stalker detained indefinitely by British court – The Guardian

Posted October 25th, 2011 in deportation, detention, harassment, mental health, news, restraining orders by sally

“A Polish man who twice broke into properties owned by Madonna was ordered to be detained indefinitely by a judge at Soutwark crown court after doctors said he posed a serious risk to the singer.”

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The Guardian, 24th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal justice system failing mentally ill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 6th, 2011 in criminal justice, mental health, news, recidivists, suicide by sally

“Some 90% of prisoners in England and Wales suffer from mental health problems and upon release are up to 36 times more likely to kill themselves than the general population, a report has revealed.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Detention of mentally ill foreign national violated Convention rights – Daniel Sokol – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 29th, 2011 in deportation, detention, human rights, mental health, news by sally

“The High Court has found that the Secretary of State unlawfully detained a mentally ill foreign national who was awaiting deportation. By failing to notify the claimant of the deportation order in good time or to follow the Home Office’s own published policies on the detention of mentally ill persons, and by detaining the claimant in degrading conditions, the Secretary of State had breached Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment) and Article 5 (right to liberty and security of person) of the Convention.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th September 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Man jailed for theft of manuscripts by Churchill, Joyce, Amis and Eliot – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2011 in mental health, news, sentencing, theft by sally

“A university graduate who stole £36,000 of manuscripts by famous figures including Sir Winston Churchill, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and TS Eliot has been jailed for 30 months.”

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The Guardian, 26th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Broadmoor patient becomes first to have his appeal heard in public – The Guardian

Posted September 26th, 2011 in mental health, news, private hearings, secure hospitals, tribunals by sally

“A man detained at Broadmoor high-security hospital has spoken of his ‘determination to get heard’ ahead of becoming the first psychiatric patient to have an appeal against detention open to the public.”

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The Guardian, 25th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wife-killing Yorkie advert man walks free from court – BBC News

Posted September 23rd, 2011 in diminished responsibility, euthanasia, mental health, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who appeared in the original Yorkie chocolate bar adverts has walked free from court after he admitted killing his terminally-ill wife.”

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BBC News, 23rd September 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Broadmoor patient fighting for right to tell his story – The Independent

Posted September 23rd, 2011 in mental health, news, private hearings, secure hospitals, tribunals by tracey

“After two decades at the psychiatric hospital, Albert Haines is making legal history in his bid to be free. Jerome Taylor met him.”

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The Independent, 23rd September 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cannibalistic killer not watched properly in Broadmoor, inquest finds – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2011 in homicide, inquests, mental health, news, secure hospitals by tracey

“A man who attacked and killed a fellow patient at a high-security psychiatric hospital because he ‘wanted to eat him’ was not being watched properly, and had not been adequately assessed, an inquest jury ruled on Thursday.”

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The Guardian, 15th September 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stress and the City – the charity on call for struggling legal professionals – Legal Week

Posted September 8th, 2011 in charities, legal profession, mental health, news by sally

“In an increasingly competitive legal sector it is understandable that many lawyers are unwilling to admit to human weakness, but those counselling struggling legal professionals believe that the number failing to cope has risen notably in recent years.”

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Legal Week, 8th September 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Army fantasist John Livesey jailed for lying to court – BBC News

“A military historian who faked an illustrious Army career has been jailed for three years.”

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BBC News, 26th August 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Care Home Conviction quashed, raising question over Mental Capacity Act offence – 23 Essex Street

Posted August 24th, 2011 in care homes, mental health, negligence, news by sally

“The owner of a care home, Annette Hopkins, represented by Kate Lumsdon (23es) and Barry McElduff (2KBW), had her conviction for negligence quashed by the Court of Appeal, who cast doubt over the viability of the offence created by the Mental Capacity Act 2005: R v Hopkins and Priest [2011]EWCA Crim 1513. The Court of Appeal, quashing the conviction on other grounds, held that in its view the offence as drafted failed the test of sufficient certainty. The Court was however bound by precedent: R v Dunn [2010] EWCA Crim 2935.”

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23 Essex Street, 17th August 2011

Source: www.23es.com