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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Killer chopped off victim's head | Killer chopped off victim's head |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man who hacked off the head of his neighbour and put it in a wheelie bin has been detained indefinitely. | A man who hacked off the head of his neighbour and put it in a wheelie bin has been detained indefinitely. |
| Eric Cruz, 32, who has schizophrenia, had a delusional belief Patrick McGee, 63, of Crumpsall, Manchester, was planning to kill his 17-month-old son. | |
| Cruz, of Parkhill Avenue, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Cruz, of Parkhill Avenue, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
| Sentencing Cruz to an indefinite hospital order, Judge Michael Henshell said: "This is a tragic case." | Sentencing Cruz to an indefinite hospital order, Judge Michael Henshell said: "This is a tragic case." |
| The court was told a neighbour claimed he heard the repeated chanting of "voodoo, voodoo, voodoo" from the Cruz household in the hours leading up to the attack. | The court was told a neighbour claimed he heard the repeated chanting of "voodoo, voodoo, voodoo" from the Cruz household in the hours leading up to the attack. |
| For a kind and gentle man to have his life ended in this way is really unspeakable Judge Michael Henshall | For a kind and gentle man to have his life ended in this way is really unspeakable Judge Michael Henshall |
| Cruz stabbed Mr McGee 17 times when he answered the door of his home in December last year. | Cruz stabbed Mr McGee 17 times when he answered the door of his home in December last year. |
| He then slashed at Mr McGee's neck and severed the head which he carried outside and placed in a bin in his neighbour's front garden. | He then slashed at Mr McGee's neck and severed the head which he carried outside and placed in a bin in his neighbour's front garden. |
| About 15 minutes later, warehouseman Cruz dialled 999 and told the operator he had cut off the head of his neighbour. | About 15 minutes later, warehouseman Cruz dialled 999 and told the operator he had cut off the head of his neighbour. |
| The court was told Cruz misunderstood his neighbour's friendly nature as intrusiveness, which had "fed into his delusions". | The court was told Cruz misunderstood his neighbour's friendly nature as intrusiveness, which had "fed into his delusions". |
| 'Wicked and irrational' | 'Wicked and irrational' |
| Judge Henshell said: "Patrick McGee had worked all his life. Everything I have heard about him gives me the clear impression he was a kind, gentle man. The perfect neighbour." | Judge Henshell said: "Patrick McGee had worked all his life. Everything I have heard about him gives me the clear impression he was a kind, gentle man. The perfect neighbour." |
| He said that Cruz was "driven to that wicked and irrational act by the illness he suffers". | He said that Cruz was "driven to that wicked and irrational act by the illness he suffers". |
| "The nature of that killing was so brutal that the effect on his family will last for the rest of their lives," Judge Henshall said. | "The nature of that killing was so brutal that the effect on his family will last for the rest of their lives," Judge Henshall said. |
| "For a kind and gentle man to have his life ended in this way is really unspeakable." | "For a kind and gentle man to have his life ended in this way is really unspeakable." |
| Keen churchgoer Cruz arrived in the UK from the Philippines in October 2005 and moved to Crumpsall with his family in May 2007. | Keen churchgoer Cruz arrived in the UK from the Philippines in October 2005 and moved to Crumpsall with his family in May 2007. |
| Neighbours intervened earlier in the day on 15 December when Cruz punched Mr McGee, but the attack was not reported to police. | Neighbours intervened earlier in the day on 15 December when Cruz punched Mr McGee, but the attack was not reported to police. |
| 'Deepest regret' | 'Deepest regret' |
| Cruz later stabbed him 13 times in the chest, twice in the stomach and twice in the back. | Cruz later stabbed him 13 times in the chest, twice in the stomach and twice in the back. |
| When a police constable arrived, Cruz pointed to the wheelie bin and said: "It's me, I've done it. The head is in that bin." | When a police constable arrived, Cruz pointed to the wheelie bin and said: "It's me, I've done it. The head is in that bin." |
| Psychiatrist Dr Josanne Holloway told the court that, in her opinion, Cruz was a paranoid schizophrenic with paranoid delusions. | Psychiatrist Dr Josanne Holloway told the court that, in her opinion, Cruz was a paranoid schizophrenic with paranoid delusions. |
| Muktar Hussain, representing Cruz, said: "He told me to express in open court his deepest regret to the deceased's family and friends." | Muktar Hussain, representing Cruz, said: "He told me to express in open court his deepest regret to the deceased's family and friends." |
| Mr McGee's brother, John, said his death had "deeply affected" his family. | Mr McGee's brother, John, said his death had "deeply affected" his family. |
| "I think of Patrick every day. The death has changed my whole view of life and I am sure I will never be the same," he said. | "I think of Patrick every day. The death has changed my whole view of life and I am sure I will never be the same," he said. |