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| Spree killer Harry Street pleads guilty to making bomb | Spree killer Harry Street pleads guilty to making bomb |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| A mass killer who shot five people dead in 1978 has admitted possessing firearms and making an improvised explosive device. | A mass killer who shot five people dead in 1978 has admitted possessing firearms and making an improvised explosive device. |
| Ex-Broadmoor patient Harry Street, 70, was caught with the bomb, as well as 50 homemade bullets, a revolver and two pistols at his Birmingham home in 2013. | Ex-Broadmoor patient Harry Street, 70, was caught with the bomb, as well as 50 homemade bullets, a revolver and two pistols at his Birmingham home in 2013. |
| Street, who was freed from detention in the mid-90s, pleaded guilty ahead of a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. | Street, who was freed from detention in the mid-90s, pleaded guilty ahead of a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. |
| In 1978 he shot three neighbours and a couple who ran a filling station. | In 1978 he shot three neighbours and a couple who ran a filling station. |
| George Burkitt and his wife Iris were shot in the head at the family's home in West Bromwich while their son Philip was shot in the heart. | George Burkitt and his wife Iris were shot in the head at the family's home in West Bromwich while their son Philip was shot in the heart. |
| Neighbour harassment | Neighbour harassment |
| Later he drove to Stockingford, near Nuneaton, where he killed Michel and Lisa Di Maria, an Italian-born couple who ran a petrol station. | |
| Street, originally called Barry Williams, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his victims on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained under mental health laws. | Street, originally called Barry Williams, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his victims on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained under mental health laws. |
| On Monday, the defendant, of Hazelville Road, Hall Green, admitted possessing the explosive device, and the prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to four other charges. | On Monday, the defendant, of Hazelville Road, Hall Green, admitted possessing the explosive device, and the prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to four other charges. |
| He had already pleaded guilty at previous hearings to three charges of possessing a prohibited firearm and a count of putting a neighbour in fear of violence between 2009 and 2013. | He had already pleaded guilty at previous hearings to three charges of possessing a prohibited firearm and a count of putting a neighbour in fear of violence between 2009 and 2013. |
| The explosive device and firearms were found at his home when he was arrested in connection with the allegations of harassment. | The explosive device and firearms were found at his home when he was arrested in connection with the allegations of harassment. |
| Prosecutor Michael Duck QC said the decision not to proceed with four of the charges had been taken after consultation with witnesses. | Prosecutor Michael Duck QC said the decision not to proceed with four of the charges had been taken after consultation with witnesses. |
| He said lawyers had also taken into account the "overwhelming likelihood" Street would again be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital. | He said lawyers had also taken into account the "overwhelming likelihood" Street would again be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital. |
| "The Crown takes the view that the interests of the protection of the public are adequately served by acceptance of the (four not guilty) pleas," he said. | "The Crown takes the view that the interests of the protection of the public are adequately served by acceptance of the (four not guilty) pleas," he said. |
| "It is quite apparent, and would have been the Crown's case, that this man commits offences of the utmost seriousness when he is mentally unwell. | "It is quite apparent, and would have been the Crown's case, that this man commits offences of the utmost seriousness when he is mentally unwell. |
| "The overwhelming balance of medical opinion is that this is a significant problem that will take a very significant time to resolve, if it ever does." | "The overwhelming balance of medical opinion is that this is a significant problem that will take a very significant time to resolve, if it ever does." |
| Street, who is being treated at the high-security Ashworth Hospital on Merseyside, made the device between January and October last year. | Street, who is being treated at the high-security Ashworth Hospital on Merseyside, made the device between January and October last year. |
| He has admitted throwing items at neighbour Warren Smith's roof, banging on and drilling into walls late at night, making threats towards him and driving past his new address after he had moved out. | He has admitted throwing items at neighbour Warren Smith's roof, banging on and drilling into walls late at night, making threats towards him and driving past his new address after he had moved out. |