Paranoid schizophrenic released into community to murder – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 24th, 2009 in homicide, mental health, news by sally

“Paranoid schizophrenic Tennyson Obih who was sectioned twice before being released into care in the community went ‘off the radar’ of the health services and murdered a policeman in broad daylight.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions, Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening – Times Law Reports

Regina (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions, Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening

Queen’s Bench Division

“The decision to abandon a prosecution because of the victim’s mental instability was irrational and a violation of the victim’s right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment protected by article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Times, 24th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Care failings blamed for stabbing spree – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2009 in homicide, medical records, mental health, news, nurses by sally

“An independent inquiry into the treatment of a man with paranoid schizophrenia who randomly stabbed six people, killing one, has condemned the care he had before the attacks and found that a nurse had altered notes relating to his case.”

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The Guardian, 9th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

R v G; R v J – WLR Daily

Posted March 5th, 2009 in law reports, mental health, terrorism by sally

R v G; R v J [2009] UKHL 13; [2009] WLR (D) 80

To rely on the defence in s 58(3) of the Terrorism Act 2000 a defendant had to show an objectively ‘reasonable excuse’ for his action or possession and a ruling that neither a desire to ‘wind up’ prison officers nor mental illness could amount to a reasonable excuse had been correct.”

WLR Daily, 4th March 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Regina v G (Terrorism: Information); Regina v J (terrorism: Information) – Times Law Reports

Posted March 5th, 2009 in law reports, mental health, terrorism by sally

Regina v G (Terrorism: Information); Regina v J (terrorism: Information)

House of Lords

“To secure a conviction, the prosecution was not required to show that a defendant had had a terrorist purpose for collecting or recording information of a kind likely to be useful to a terrorist or possessing a document or record containing information of that kind.”

The Times, 5th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 from the date of publication.

‘Phantom’ killer sent to hospital – BBC News

Posted March 4th, 2009 in homicide, mental health, news by sally

“A man who killed a woman while wearing a ‘Phantom of the Opera’ mask has been sent to a mental hospital indefinitely.”

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BBC News, 3rd March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Schizophrenic Daniel Gonzales stabbed four people after NHS ignored his pleas – The Times

Posted March 4th, 2009 in hospitals, mental health, murder, news by sally

“A schizophrenic killer who murdered four people in three days was failed repeatedly by an ineffective NHS, an inquiry has found. The treatment of Daniel Gonzales was full of missed opportunities that could have prevented him stabbing three pensioners and another man to death.”

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The Times, 4th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sentence for woman dog strangler – BBC News

Posted March 3rd, 2009 in animal cruelty, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“A woman with a history of mental illness has been given a six-month conditional discharge after admitting strangling two dogs.”

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BBC News, 2nd March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Treating offenders with mental health issues ‘would save £700m’ – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2009 in mental health, news, prisons by sally

“The government could shave £700m annually from criminal justice costs if it overhauled the process for diverting offenders with mental health problems from jail to the mental health system, according to new research.”

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ripper freedom ‘unlikely’ – PM -BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2009 in mental health, news, parole by sally

“Gordon Brown has said it is ‘very unlikely’ Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe will be released from jail.”

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BBC News, 18th February 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

In re P [2009] – WLR Daily

Posted February 11th, 2009 in Court of Protection, law reports, mental health, wills by sally

In re P [2009] EWHC 163 (Ch); [2009] WLR (D) 41

“When making decisions about the property and welfare of persons lacking capacity, the overarching principle pursuant to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 was that any decision made on behalf of that person must be made in his best interests. The guidance given under the Mental Health Acts 1959 and 1983 about the making of settlements or wills could no longer be directly applied to a decision made under the 2005 Act.”

WLR Daily, 10th February 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Lawyer of alleged torture victim makes plea to MPs – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2009 in mental health, news, torture by sally

“The British resident at the centre of a legal battle over alleged torture could leave Guantánamo Bay insane or in a coffin if the case continues to be dragged out, his lawyer said yesterday.”

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The Guardian, 10th February 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jury blasts staff over death in cell – The Times

Posted February 10th, 2009 in inquests, mental health, news, prisons, suicide by sally

“Staff at a privately run jail failed to do all they could to ensure the safety of an inmate who killed himself while suffering a mental illness, a coroner’s jury ruled yesterday.”

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The Times, 10th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regina (TF) v Secretary of State for Justice – Times Law Reports

Posted February 6th, 2009 in law reports, mental health, prisons by sally

Regina (TF) v Secretary of State for Justice

Court of Appeal

“A prisoner could be transferred to a mental hospital at the end of his sentence, only if two doctors recommended it and his medical condition and treatability justified it.”

The Times, 6th February 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

‘Too many’ mentally ill in jails – BBC News

Posted February 4th, 2009 in mental health, news, prisons by sally

“Thousands of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than receiving treatment, the Prison Reform Trust has said.”

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BBC News, 4th February 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted January 28th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, law reports, mental health, prosecutions, victims by sally

R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2009] EWHC 106 (Admin); [2009] WLR (D) 25

The decision to abandon a prosecution because of the victim’s mental instability involved a misapplication of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, was irrational and was a violation of the victim’s rights under art 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.”

WLR Daily, 27th January 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Mentally ill victim was failed by CPS – The Independent

Posted January 28th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, mental health, news, prosecutions, victims by sally

“A decision by prosecutors to drop a serious criminal assault case because the victim, who had half an ear bitten off, suffered mental health problems, has been severely criticised by High Court judges.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th January 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cheltenham director Christine Laird sued for ‘lying about illness’ – The Times

Posted January 28th, 2009 in mental health, misrepresentation, news by sally

“A local authority accused its former managing director of fraudulent behaviour and deceit yesterday, claiming that she withheld her history of depressive illness when applying for the job.”

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The Times, 28th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Home fined over resident’s death – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2009 in care homes, elderly, mental health, news by sally

“The owners of an Oxford care home have been fined £80,000 following the death of an 82-year-old woman with dementia.”

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BBC News, 9th January 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Damning death verdicts called for – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2009 in hospitals, mental health, news by sally

“A health watchdog should issue damning verdicts on six deaths of vulnerable NHS patients, a charity has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th January 2009

SOurce: www.bbc.co.uk