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Schizophrenic man beheaded friend | Schizophrenic man beheaded friend |
(10 minutes later) | |
A man suffering from paranoid schizophrenia decapitated a friend after he stopped taking the necessary medication, a court heard. | |
Garnet Hooper, 54, of Attlebridge, Norfolk, attacked Graham Rayner, 64, of Taverham, Norfolk, with an axe in May. | Garnet Hooper, 54, of Attlebridge, Norfolk, attacked Graham Rayner, 64, of Taverham, Norfolk, with an axe in May. |
He then put Mr Rayner's headless body in the boot of a car and drove off. | He then put Mr Rayner's headless body in the boot of a car and drove off. |
Hooper, who admitted manslaughter at Norwich Crown Court, was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital under the mental health act. | |
Judge Peter Jacobs said the case was "worrying and disturbing". | Judge Peter Jacobs said the case was "worrying and disturbing". |
Mr Rayner's family said "questions" needed to be asked about Hooper's care. | Mr Rayner's family said "questions" needed to be asked about Hooper's care. |
Health authority officials said Hooper's case had been analysed and a decision would be made as to whether an inquiry was needed. | Health authority officials said Hooper's case had been analysed and a decision would be made as to whether an inquiry was needed. |
We cannot forgive Garnet Hooper for what he did but we accept that they were the actions of a very ill man A spokesman for Mr Rayner's family | |
Hooper, who had suffered from schizophrenia for 20 years, had been placed in a secure hospital in 1991 after stabbing a member of his family. He was released into the community in 1996, lawyers said. | |
The torso and head of Mr Rayner were found in a green Montego car stopped by police on the A11 in Suffolk on 24 May this year. | |
Graham Parkins QC said Hooper had stopped taking medication in the weeks leading up to the killing of Mr Rayner. | |
Friends noticed that his mental state was deteriorating and he thought that televisions were listening to him, said Mr Parkins. | |
But the court was told that no-one realised that he might be capable of such extreme violence. | |
"It was becoming perfectly clear that this man was not taking necessary medication," said Judge Jacobs. | |
"It is a worrying and disturbing situation. I propose to make no further comment. That will be for others." | |
'Lessons to learn' | |
Judge Jacobs told Hooper: "You considered you would have to kill somebody because that was the way your uncontrolled urges were leading you." | |
A spokesman for Mr Rayner's family said after the hearing: "We cannot forgive Garnet Hooper for what he did but we accept that they were the actions of a very ill man." | |
The spokesman added: "We are keen that questions are asked of the mental health services' procedures and of the individuals concerned with his care. | |
"Lessons need to be learned to help prevent another family going through what we are." |
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