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Ritual Sacrifice Claim in Brutal Park Murder
23 Jan
Summary
- Woman claimed devil tricked her into ritual sacrifice of victim.
- Victim suffered 57 stab wounds and 19 incisions.
- Killer had absconded from mental health facility prior.
Roger Leadbeater, a 74-year-old man who transported children with special needs, was tragically killed in Sheffield's Shortbrook Park on August 9, 2023, while walking his dog. He sustained 57 stab wounds and 19 incisions in what was described as a barbaric attack. The perpetrator, 32-year-old Emma Borowy, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, told police the act was a 'ritual sacrifice' orchestrated by the devil.
Borowy, an artist from Bolton, had absconded from a mental health facility in Greater Manchester two days prior to the incident. The inquest revealed a history of missed opportunities and miscommunication between police forces and the mental health trust. She had previously escaped her ward multiple times and had been sectioned after killing two goats with a knife in October 2022.
The victim's family stated that Mr. Leadbeater fought valiantly, with defensive wounds covering his body, but was ultimately overpowered. They feel he was failed by both police and mental health services. Borowy reportedly died in custody in December 2023, awaiting trial.
