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Big Issue stabbings: Homeless man detained for life | Big Issue stabbings: Homeless man detained for life |
(about 2 hours 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 Watson-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 denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was given a minimum tariff of 12 years. | John Ward denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was given a minimum tariff of 12 years. |
Ward, 23, a paranoid schizophrenic, appeared via video link at Birmingham Crown Court because of safety concerns. | Ward, 23, a paranoid schizophrenic, appeared via video link at Birmingham Crown Court because of safety concerns. |
The court heard that a week ago Ward attacked and seriously injured a member of staff at Ashworth Hospital, the secure psychiatric unit where he is being held. | The court heard that a week ago Ward attacked and seriously injured a member of staff at Ashworth Hospital, the secure psychiatric unit where he is being held. |
Ahead of Ward's trial, Big Issue founder John Bird said "the streets are incredibly dangerous" and it was difficult to protect the magazine vendors. | Ahead of Ward's trial, Big Issue founder John Bird said "the streets are incredibly dangerous" and it was difficult to protect the magazine vendors. |
He said the charity was looking at other ways of working with homeless people who did not want to be street sellers. | He said the charity was looking at other ways of working with homeless people who did not want to be street sellers. |
Both men were stabbed to death near their pitches. | Both men were stabbed to death near their pitches. |
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. | 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. |
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 men as they sold the magazine. | 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 men as they sold the magazine. |
Fled to cinema | |
It was the first time he had met the men, who were fellow drug-users. | It was the first time he had met the men, who were fellow drug-users. |
Ward, of no fixed address, then struck out at them, with one eyewitness describing seeing him afterwards looking "angry and arrogant". | Ward, of no fixed address, then struck out at them, with one eyewitness describing seeing him afterwards looking "angry and arrogant". |
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. | 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. |
Afterwards he gave 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." | Afterwards he gave 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." |
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. | 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"'. | 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"'. |