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Big Issue stabbings: Homeless man detained for life Big Issue stabbings: Homeless man detained for life
(34 minutes later)
A homeless man who admitted killing two Big Issue sellers in a knife attack in Birmingham has been detained for life.A homeless man who admitted killing two Big Issue sellers in a knife attack in Birmingham has been detained for life.
Ian Gladwish, 31, and Wayne Busst, 32, who were also homeless, were stabbed in Union Street on 11 January. Ian Watson-Gladwish, 31, and Wayne Busst, 32, who were also homeless, were stabbed in Union Street on 11 January.
John Ward admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Birmingham Crown Court and was sentenced to life with a hospital order. John Ward, 23, denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was given a minimum tariff of 12 years.
Ward, who has paranoid schizophrenia, appeared via video link. Ward, 23, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, appeared via video link at Birmingham Crown Court.
The Big Issue founder John Bird said following the deaths, there were a number of people at the magazine organisation who said they "can't leave people in this situation".The Big Issue founder John Bird said following the deaths, there were a number of people at the magazine organisation who said they "can't leave people in this situation".
Both men were stabbed to death near their pitches.Both men were stabbed to death near their pitches.
Fled to cinemaFled to cinema
The court heard how Ward had travelled up to Birmingham from London the day before the killings, where he met Mr Gladwish and Mr Ward. West Midlands Police said one of the men was stabbed outside Sainsbury's in Union Street, while the other was found slumped nearby outside a side entrance to Boots.
The three spent several hours together during the day, before meeting up again shortly before the stabbing. Peter Grieves-Smith, prosecuting, said Ward travelled from London to Birmingham, bought a knife, alcohol and a bag of heroin - which he smoked - and then stood with the two victims as they sold copies of the magazine.
In between their meetings, Ward purchased the knife which was used to stab his victims, police said. Ward, of no fixed address, struck out at the two men, with one eyewitness describing seeing him afterwards looking "angry and arrogant".
One of the men was stabbed outside Sainsbury's in Union Street, while the other was found slumped nearby outside a side entrance to Boots. The knife was thrown away in an alleyway and Ward walked to a nearby Odeon cinema where he sat and wiped blood from his face and hands with napkins until the police arrived to arrest him.
After stabbing the two men, Ward fled to New Street and into the Odeon cinema. After he was arrested Ward provided police with a written statement that said: "John Ward admits stabbing two men in Birmingham city centre - he intended to hurt them but not to kill them."
Officers followed Ward into the cinema where he was arrested. Ward met the pair - fellow drug-users - for the first time after arriving in the city.
In late January, a memorial service for the victims was held at St Martin's Church, in Birmingham City Centre. Mr Grieves-Smith said psychiatric experts for both the prosecution and defence had since assessed Ward as a paranoid schizophrenic and agreed that this serious mental health disorder was at the root of his attacks.
Ward told Dr Panchu Xavier, forensic psychologist at Ashworth Hospital, "he didn't want to do anything but "the voices wanted me to kill everyone"'.