A Dundee man who killed a grandad with a kitchen knife in Glastonbury has been detained at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital indefinitely.
James O’Connor, 45, travelled from Tayside with the knife and stabbed 89-year-old Frederick Burge at his house in the Somerset town on 26 February 2023.
Originally charged with murder, he pled guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility at Bristol Crown Court in February and appeared for sentencing on Tuesday.
He was handed an indefinite hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act.
Mr Burge, an elderly widower living alone with his dog, was described as a “much-loved family man” who “enjoyed seeing and speaking with his children”.
The court heard O’Connor, from the Hilltown area of Dundee, has 16 previous convictions for 30 offences, including drugs, violence and an assault dating back to 1995.
He had suffered from mental difficulties from a young age, including hearing voices and seeing auras.
‘Special person’
Mr Burge’s son and daughter, Kevin and Sylvia, told the court their family had been left “devastated” by his death.
Kevin’s victim impact statement read: “He was a special person to everyone around him.
“I spoke to him every day and he made me so happy. I cannot describe how devastated I am to know I will never see him or hear his voice again.
“I have nothing but great anger and hatred towards Mr O’Connor.
“My father knew how much he was loved. He has now been reunited with my lovely mother for all time.”
Family statement
On the court steps after the judgment, the senior investigator, Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins of Avon and Somerset Police, read a statement from Mr Burge’s family, who watched on clutching pictures of their tragic loved one.
He read: “The loss of our much-loved father, grandad, great-grandad and great-great-grandad has had a significant impact of our whole family.
“He was a loving, kind and charming gentleman who was well-known among the community and a huge hole has been left in our family.
“While James O’Connor has been sentenced today, this will not bring our dad back.
“However, this part of our journey has come to an end and as a family we can start to heal and move on and our dad can sleep peacefully.
“We stand together and hold our heads high knowing we got justice for our father.”
Hearing voices
The BBC reported Bristol Crown Court was told O’Connor had been hearing voices and believed he needed to find and kill someone who was cursed, in the hope it would end what he believed to be a curse on himself.
Mr Burge was found by his son with nine stab wounds to his chest, as well as cuts on his arms and hands.
CCTV from a neighbour showed O’Connor had gone to the house, killed Mr Burge and then left again in a two-minute period.
Judge Julian Lambert told Mr Burge’s family: “I’ve worked with words all my life… and I can hardly express the depth of agony you must have gone through.
“The legal process can seem terribly hollow when you look at the tragedy that happened here.”
Concerns in custody
Judge Lambert said there had been concerns over O’Connor’s mental state while in police custody.
The judge added the defendant had been “preoccupied with God and ‘spiritual things”‘ and had been observed talking to himself and making “lots of incongruent comments”.
Medical professionals at Broadmoor Hospital identified schizophrenia as the prevailing mental disorder, a condition they said would “substantially impair” his ability to form a rational judgment and to exercise self-control.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Lambert said: “The effect of what you did is brutal and devastating and has left the family with a graphic image of their father’s demise which no one should have to suffer.
“Given your offending, recent behaviour and your psychiatric condition I can only find that you are dangerous and will be so for a long time.”
Police praise
Mr Haskin said: “This investigation has been a huge investigation.
“It has taken officers and staff from Somerset to Dundee, reviewing CCTV, interviewing suspects and witnesses and conducting searches and completing house-to-house inquiries.
“I’d like to praise the hard work of all the police officers and staff involved and commend Mr Burge’s family for the resolve they have shown.
“I hope this result will give them closure as they continue to come to terms with Mr Burge’s death.”
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