I was a witness at a fatal attack in McDonald's in Chichester - a small city on the English south coast, UK, between Portsmouth and Brighton.
My initial thinking in the aftermath is best supporting the victims of such a knife crime. Much has been written and broadcast about the man who committed this killing - but it's time to think of the victims, especially the affected families. My experience of this has shown they are not as well helped as they could be.
Overview: A man with a severe form of autism was jailed for life and detained under the Mental Health Act at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire for stabbing his manager in front of customers on a busy Saturday lunchtime .
Shane Kevin Freer (21), of First Avenue, Batchmere, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility (he had Asperger Syndrome) for a "horrific, frenzied, ferocious and crazed" attack on 56-year-old Jacky Marshall in April 2005.
Tribute to Jacky from her husband, Eddie
Here I list some of the website addresses for you to check news coverage of the court case:
Local paper - The Observer
BBC
The Guardian
Telegraph.co.uk
Daily Mail
The Sunday Times
The Mirror
The Sun
Google search
What did you think about what happened? There'll be more written here over time about your views, but also the difficulties and issues that the victims suffered and continue to deal with. Jacky's family are backing this blog and are keen that systems are changed and improved, that knife crime can be reduced.
It is my intention to use this blog as a kind of living petition to change things with regard to knife crime - and to at least press for better help for victims during the machinations of the legal system.
Do start sending your thoughts, insight, inside knowledge, information - whatever you believe may help.
Many thanks.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
As far as I am aware, Shane Freer walked into the restaurant, checked out the situation, left and bought a knife and then returned and ruthlessley killed Jacky without a second thought in front of a room full of people. Whatever condition he may be suffering from, there is sufficient opinion here to say there was intent. I am sorry for the families affected, but with today's current forensic science, there is pressure to bring back capital punishment. His life should be taken away from him, as hers was taken from her.
ReplyDelete