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Richard Whelan |
‘Mentally ill killer claimed self-defence'
‘Then he said he heard voices’
A KILLER who claims he was not the master of his own mind when he plunged a knife repeatedly into a fellow bus passenger maintained when first arrested that he was acting in self-defence, a jury heard yesterday (Wednesday).
Later, he told doctors and nurses that he had schizophrenia and had been “hearing voices”, the Old Bailey was told.
“But not everybody believes this man is mentally ill,” said Jonathan Turner QC, prosecuting. He added that Anthony Joseph, 22, was possibly feigning psychiatric symptoms to escape a murder rap.
Joseph, of Theseus Walk, Islington, denies the murder of corporate hospitality agent Richard Whelan, 28, of Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, on July 29, 2005.
Mr Whelan was travelling on the top deck of a 43 bus in Holloway with his girlfriend Kerry Barker, 38, a secretary for a legal firm in Islington.
They had been enjoying a Friday night out until Joseph, wearing a black leather jacket and a black baseball cap, began throwing chips towards them.
The court heard that Mr Whelan remonstrated with him and a fight started. Joseph, who was in the habit of carrying a knife, inflicted seven stab wounds to the unarmed Mr Whelan.
He casually left the bus as Mr Whelan collapsed on the lower deck. One wound to the heart killed him.Jurors watched several minutes of CCTV footage of the attack and the lead-up to it. Several frames showed Miss Barker desperately trying to help her stricken boyfriend as he examines blood seeping through the front and back of his shirt.
One woman said Joseph found the chip-throwing funny. She said she would never forget “the permanently amused look on his face” as he left the scene.
Joseph had previously made suicide attempts by slashing wrists, taking an overdose and jumping into the Thames.
The trial continues. |
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