Lee Byer, who was released from prison only five days prior, has been detained indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital after admitting to the killing of an elderly man in Greenford, west London, in August of this year. Byer pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Thomas O’Halloran, who was riding a mobility scooter at the time he was attacked. Byer, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, acted whilst experiencing “demand delusions” that he was participating in a Hunger Games-style scenario where he had to defend himself.
Psychiatrists testified in court that Byer had been suffering from psychotic episodes, had been hearing voices, and had been suffering from the effects of paranoid schizophrenia. A hospital order was handed down with restrictions after the jury accepted Byer’s plea on the grounds of diminished responsibility. During his televised sentencing, Judge Mark Lucraft KC called the killing senseless and savage, adding that there was no provocation or rational motive for it.
The victim’s family, who described him as a gentle and loving man, condemned Byer for committing a horrendous act of cowardice. Byer was returned to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital, with experts suggesting that he may never be released.
The judge agreed to impose a hospital order with restrictions, citing concerns that Byer was extremely dangerous and the measures were most likely to protect others. The ruling comes as a reminder of the impact that mental health can have on individuals and society as a whole, as well as the need to continue to address the issue with appropriate resources and support
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