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Bournemouth woman not guilty of 'demon' murder bid due to insanity | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who said she submerged a young boy in the sea to expel a demon from his body and resurrect her dead father has been found not guilty of attempted murder, by reason of insanity. | |
Claire Winslade held the child under the water as she went to scatter her father's ashes in Bournemouth, a prosecutor said. | |
Passers-by intervened to save the child at Southbourne beach on 9 January. | |
Winchester Crown Court adjourned the case for psychiatric reports. | |
Ms Winslade, 32, of Seabourne Road, Bournemouth, had denied the attempted murder charge. | |
Rob Welling, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had a history of mental illness which deteriorated following the death of her father in November 2014. | |
He said Ms Winslade told doctors that she had tried to drown the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, "because she believed he had a demon in him, [and] by doing so he would be returned alive with her father. | He said Ms Winslade told doctors that she had tried to drown the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, "because she believed he had a demon in him, [and] by doing so he would be returned alive with her father. |
"At the beach she walked [the boy] into the sea up to knee or waist level then she held his head under the water. | "At the beach she walked [the boy] into the sea up to knee or waist level then she held his head under the water. |
"Had it not been for three passing joggers and a dog walker, [the boy] might have drowned that morning." | "Had it not been for three passing joggers and a dog walker, [the boy] might have drowned that morning." |
An eyewitness described that the boy said to Ms Winslade afterwards: "Why did you push me over?" | |
The case was adjourned until Friday for a "possible final outcome", the court said. | |
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