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System 'let down' crash victims System failed 'Satan' crash pair
(about 1 hour later)
A mother and daughter killed when a car driven by a mentally ill woman mounted the pavement were let down by the mental health system, a judge has said. The mental health system let down a mother and daughter and the mentally ill woman whose car killed them, a judge has said.
Gemma Montanaro, 41, was cleared of dangerous driving by reason of insanity at Leicester Crown Court last year. Gemma Montanaro, who thought Satan was at the wheel, was cleared of dangerous driving by reason of insanity.
Jane Malkin, 51, and Nicole Townshend, 24, died instantly on Saffron Lane, Leicester, in January 2007.Jane Malkin, 51, and Nicole Townshend, 24, died instantly on Saffron Lane, Leicester, in January 2007.
Ms Montanaro appeared before Leicester Crown Court to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.Ms Montanaro appeared before Leicester Crown Court to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
She said Satan was at the wheel of her car when the crash happened and later argued she was in the grip of schizophrenia. At her trial last year, the court heard Ms Montanaro was in the grip of schizophrenia at the time of the crash.
The court said she could be cared for in the community, but would be returned to a mental health unit if she became unwell again. The court was told psychiatrist Dr Susan Smith's recommendation that Ms Montanaro should be admitted to hospital was overridden by community health workers the day before the incident.
On Friday, the judge ruled she could be cared for in the community, but would be returned to a mental health unit if she became unwell again.
Ms Montanaro has been let down and the families of the deceased have been let down by... a failure in the system Judge Michael PertMs Montanaro has been let down and the families of the deceased have been let down by... a failure in the system Judge Michael Pert
Her trial heard earlier that psychiatrist Dr Susan Smith's recommendation that the woman should be admitted to hospital was overridden by community health workers the day before the incident. Judge Michael Pert said: "I have a public duty to have a concern because Ms Montanaro has been let down and the families of the deceased have been let down by, effectively, a failure in the system.
Judge Michael Pert said on Friday: "I have a public duty to have a concern because Ms Montanaro has been let down and the families of the deceased have been let down by, effectively, a failure in the system.
"Dr Smith's recommendation was not followed. Under this system, the recommendation of the clinicians will be followed."Dr Smith's recommendation was not followed. Under this system, the recommendation of the clinicians will be followed.
"Dr Smith's care was without fault. She made a recommendation at the time, when Gemma Montanaro was desperately unwell, that was overridden and, as a result, two people died."Dr Smith's care was without fault. She made a recommendation at the time, when Gemma Montanaro was desperately unwell, that was overridden and, as a result, two people died.
"I have seen a document that passes as an NHS report on the circumstances. It does not strike me as satisfactory.""I have seen a document that passes as an NHS report on the circumstances. It does not strike me as satisfactory."
The trial heard before the collision, Ms Montanaro had been seen by witnesses driving on the wrong side of the road and through red lights at speeds of up to 70mph.The trial heard before the collision, Ms Montanaro had been seen by witnesses driving on the wrong side of the road and through red lights at speeds of up to 70mph.