This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22267573
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Marlene Torlay admits killing Marie McCracken | Marlene Torlay admits killing Marie McCracken |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A woman who suffers from depression has admitted killing her friend after she called at her house for tea and a chat. | |
Marlene Torlay, 61, attacked Mary McCracken, 59, with scalding water, a hammer and a knife sharpener, at her home in East Kilbride, in October 2012. | |
The Crown accepted her guilty plea to a reduced charge of culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility. | The Crown accepted her guilty plea to a reduced charge of culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility. |
Torlay was ordered to be detained under an interim compulsion order at Royal Edinburgh Hospital's Orchard Clinic. | Torlay was ordered to be detained under an interim compulsion order at Royal Edinburgh Hospital's Orchard Clinic. |
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that she had been prescribed too high a dose of an anti-depressant which could cause acute withdrawal symptoms, and may have missed a dose of the drug. | The High Court in Edinburgh heard that she had been prescribed too high a dose of an anti-depressant which could cause acute withdrawal symptoms, and may have missed a dose of the drug. |
The court heard that Torlay was friends with Mrs McCracken, who was a senior service assistant for the WRVS at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride. | The court heard that Torlay was friends with Mrs McCracken, who was a senior service assistant for the WRVS at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride. |
'Brutal attack' | 'Brutal attack' |
On 24 October 2012, Mrs McCracken called at her friend's house, in South Lanarkshire, for a cup of tea and a chat. | |
During the visit she was subjected to "a prolonged and brutal attack", in which Torlay threw scalding water at her before repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a hammer and knife sharpener. | During the visit she was subjected to "a prolonged and brutal attack", in which Torlay threw scalding water at her before repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a hammer and knife sharpener. |
The court heard that following the fatal attack, Torlay looked in a mirror and saw her face and clothes were covered in blood. | The court heard that following the fatal attack, Torlay looked in a mirror and saw her face and clothes were covered in blood. |
She then started to clean up after putting a throw over the victim's body. | She then started to clean up after putting a throw over the victim's body. |
Later that day, her son returned to the house and found his mother sitting watching television unaware that Mrs McCracken's body was lying in another room. | Later that day, her son returned to the house and found his mother sitting watching television unaware that Mrs McCracken's body was lying in another room. |
She later said her friend had told her to take a tablet and calm down, but Torlay found herself "hitting and hitting and hitting her". | She later said her friend had told her to take a tablet and calm down, but Torlay found herself "hitting and hitting and hitting her". |
It emerged in court that the 61-year-old widow had developed depression about 18 months before the attack and was prescribed an anti-depressant drug, citalopram. | It emerged in court that the 61-year-old widow had developed depression about 18 months before the attack and was prescribed an anti-depressant drug, citalopram. |
Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said a psychiatrist who had prepared a report in the case said she was prescribed "a dosage which was far in excess of what she should have been prescribed". | Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said a psychiatrist who had prepared a report in the case said she was prescribed "a dosage which was far in excess of what she should have been prescribed". |
'Wrong dosage' | 'Wrong dosage' |
Acute withdrawal symptoms to the drug - which can include confusion, irritability and aggression - may occur after missing a single regular dose. | Acute withdrawal symptoms to the drug - which can include confusion, irritability and aggression - may occur after missing a single regular dose. |
The counsel said: "It is not for me to comment that the wrong dosage of an anti-depressant drug explains, or goes to explain, the violent conduct of Mrs Torlay. | The counsel said: "It is not for me to comment that the wrong dosage of an anti-depressant drug explains, or goes to explain, the violent conduct of Mrs Torlay. |
"But clearly there is some issue that might properly have been investigated at an earlier stage as to whether or not she was being properly treated for a depressive illness." | "But clearly there is some issue that might properly have been investigated at an earlier stage as to whether or not she was being properly treated for a depressive illness." |
Mr Duguid told the court that since Torlay's admission to hospital she had been slowly weaned from the drug and given a different anti-depressant. | Mr Duguid told the court that since Torlay's admission to hospital she had been slowly weaned from the drug and given a different anti-depressant. |
Advocate depute Jonathan Brodie QC said there was some evidence to indicate that Torlay may have missed a dose of her medication on the day of the offence or shortly before. | Advocate depute Jonathan Brodie QC said there was some evidence to indicate that Torlay may have missed a dose of her medication on the day of the offence or shortly before. |
Judge Lord Jones ordered that Torlay should be detained under an interim compulsion order at the Orchard Clinic. | Judge Lord Jones ordered that Torlay should be detained under an interim compulsion order at the Orchard Clinic. |
He said he was satisfied on psychiatric evidence that Torlay has a mental disorder. | He said he was satisfied on psychiatric evidence that Torlay has a mental disorder. |