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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man jailed for killing stranger | Man jailed for killing stranger |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A man who stabbed a stranger to death in Manchester after hearing voices in his head has been jailed for life. | A man who stabbed a stranger to death in Manchester after hearing voices in his head has been jailed for life. |
| Paul Cusack stabbed joiner Sidney Waller, 67, in the neck on Mauldeth Road West in Withington before calling police to confess to the killing. | |
| Cusack, who has a history of mental illness, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Cusack, who has a history of mental illness, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
| Mr Waller's family has demanded to know why Cusack, 32, was able to live in the community with little supervision. | |
| Officers arrived at the flat to find Cusack with blood on his face and hands, still holding a knife, Manchester Crown Court heard. | |
| Mental illness | Mental illness |
| Mr Waller had been fitting a kitchen at the flat next door to Cusack on 28 July 2008 when he was stabbed about 30 times. | |
| During police interviews, Cusack said he heard voices in his head willing him to confront the tradesman. | During police interviews, Cusack said he heard voices in his head willing him to confront the tradesman. |
| Only he knows what drove him to commit that terrible act that morning Andrew Tattersall, senior investigator | Only he knows what drove him to commit that terrible act that morning Andrew Tattersall, senior investigator |
| Cusack had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and was the subject of care in the community. | Cusack had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and was the subject of care in the community. |
| But a judge at the court told him that although skilful at displaying the symptoms of psychosis there was little evidence that he had it. | |
| Speaking after the hearing, senior investigating officer Andrew Tattersall said: "The officers who attended Cusack's call were faced with a horrendous scene following this very violent killing. | Speaking after the hearing, senior investigating officer Andrew Tattersall said: "The officers who attended Cusack's call were faced with a horrendous scene following this very violent killing. |
| "It has been a very difficult 15 months for the Waller family, and we hope that today can help the healing process, but they will always be heartbroken by this tragedy. | "It has been a very difficult 15 months for the Waller family, and we hope that today can help the healing process, but they will always be heartbroken by this tragedy. |
| 'Overwhelming grief' | 'Overwhelming grief' |
| "Paul Cusack is a troubled and complicated man. Only he knows what drove him to commit that terrible act that morning." | "Paul Cusack is a troubled and complicated man. Only he knows what drove him to commit that terrible act that morning." |
| NHS officials have commissioned an independent investigation into The Health Advocacy and Resource Project, the organisation responsible for his care. | NHS officials have commissioned an independent investigation into The Health Advocacy and Resource Project, the organisation responsible for his care. |
| Speaking on behalf of Mr Waller's family, his son-in-law Mike Barrett, wanted to know why "warning signs" of Mr Cusack's deterioration in condition were not followed up. | |
| "As a family we completely appreciate that people with mental health disorders have the right to try and live as normally as possible, however when that person begins to pose a risk to others some kind of pro-active intervention needs to happen," added Mr Barrett. | "As a family we completely appreciate that people with mental health disorders have the right to try and live as normally as possible, however when that person begins to pose a risk to others some kind of pro-active intervention needs to happen," added Mr Barrett. |
| He added: "Nothing seems to have been done to reduce the risk in this case. | He added: "Nothing seems to have been done to reduce the risk in this case. |
| "As well as the sense of overwhelming grief, there's anger and unanswered questions and we need to know why Sid died." | "As well as the sense of overwhelming grief, there's anger and unanswered questions and we need to know why Sid died." |