What did the defendant claim drove her actions in the Lincoln Crown Court trial?

The defendant claimed she was hearing voices that instructed her to harm other people.

What was the victim's cause of death in the Lincoln Crown Court case?

The victim sustained 143 sharp force injuries, indicating a violent attack.

Did psychiatric experts agree on the defendant's mental state during the trial?

No, specialists disagreed, with the prosecution presenting experts who challenged the mental health defense.

Home / Crime and Justice / Teen Killer Heard Voices: Trial Reveals Mental Battle

Teen Killer Heard Voices: Trial Reveals Mental Battle

10 Dec

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Summary

Defendant claimed voices commanded her to harm others before the killing.
A clinical psychologist testified to the teen's severe dissociative disorder.
Pathologist reported 143 sharp force injuries on the victim's body.

Teen Killer Heard Voices: Trial Reveals Mental Battle

At Lincoln Crown Court, a chilling trial unfolded as jurors heard that the teenage defendant, aged 13 at the time, claimed to be hearing voices commanding her to harm others. She described feeling a loss of control over her own body, suggesting her actions were not entirely her own. This defense hinges on a severe mental disorder, as testified by a clinical psychologist who stated it substantially impaired her ability to form rational judgments.

The prosecution countered this by asserting the killing was premeditated murder, pointing to alleged planning and subsequent deception by the defendant. They presented evidence from psychiatric specialists who challenged the notion that poor mental health solely caused the actions. Pathologists detailed the horrific extent of the victim's injuries, reporting 143 sharp force wounds, including numerous strikes to the head and neck.