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Stewart Greene jailed for murdering grandson by drowning | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man who drowned his nine-year-old grandson in the bath has been jailed for life for the boy's murder. | |
Stewart Greene, 65, killed Alex Robinson in what a psychiatrist described as "one of the most callous killings" he had ever seen. | |
Greene had denied murder on the grounds of being mentally ill, but changed his plea to guilty during his trial. | |
The judge, Mrs Justice Thirlwall, told him he will serve a minimum term of 22 years in prison. | |
Sentencing him at Lincoln Crown Court, she said: "The callousness cannot be overstated." | |
Greene, who had never disputed killing Alex, changed his plea following evidence from psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph. | |
Psychopathic personality disorder | Psychopathic personality disorder |
Dr Joseph, who has dealt with more than 800 homicide cases, told the jury: "In over 30 years, this is one of the most callous killings or murders I have been involved with." | Dr Joseph, who has dealt with more than 800 homicide cases, told the jury: "In over 30 years, this is one of the most callous killings or murders I have been involved with." |
He diagnosed Greene with a psychopathic personality disorder, characterised by a "callous unconcern for the feelings of others" and an "incapacity to experience guilt". | He diagnosed Greene with a psychopathic personality disorder, characterised by a "callous unconcern for the feelings of others" and an "incapacity to experience guilt". |
But despite his mental condition, Dr Joseph said Greene understood what he was doing and his ability to form a rational judgement was not impaired. | But despite his mental condition, Dr Joseph said Greene understood what he was doing and his ability to form a rational judgement was not impaired. |
"Although his judgement was abhorrent, immoral and illegal, it was rational," he told the court. | "Although his judgement was abhorrent, immoral and illegal, it was rational," he told the court. |
The trial heard Alex had stayed at home in Lincoln to play on his Xbox while his mother, grandmother and four-year-old sister went out to buy a turkey two days before Christmas. | |
While they were out Greene double locked the doors, ran a bath, walked his grandson into the bathroom and drowned him. | |
His mother, Joanne Greene, told police how she returned to her home in Pennell Street to find her son dead. | |
In a video played to the court, Ms Greene said her father was calmly sitting on the sofa and told her: "I've drowned Alex in the bath." | |
'Lifeless' | |
Ms Greene told the interviewing officer she did not believe him at first, but then desperately began looking for her son. | |
She rushed to the bathroom, where she saw Alex in the water, surrounded by his sister's toys. | She rushed to the bathroom, where she saw Alex in the water, surrounded by his sister's toys. |
Michael Evans QC, prosecuting, told the court: "She dragged Alex out of the bath and remembers his lips were blue and he was lifeless." | Michael Evans QC, prosecuting, told the court: "She dragged Alex out of the bath and remembers his lips were blue and he was lifeless." |
The court heard Greene had been angry with his daughter, who refused to let him live with her following his discharge from a mental health unit just 12 days before. | |
He had a history of mental health problems stretching back to his twenties, with various diagnoses including depression, bipolar affective disorder and personality disorder. | |
Giving evidence, Ms Greene said she had pleaded with staff at the mental health unit not to let her father out, and warned them: "He will do something to get himself put in somewhere." |