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Killer attacked ‘kind’ boss as he worked late
Knifeman ‘a significant risk to public’
A DERANGED knifeman who believed he had been put under a black magic spell stabbed his boss to death, the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday.
The heartbroken family of the victim, David Stoute, were in court to see his killer sentenced.
Mr Stoute, 54, ran Hornsey Metalworks, in Hornsey Road, Upper Holloway, where he was attacked without warning by Dominic Ryan, 21, a paranoid schizophrenic.
Described as kind, compassionate and always willing to help those in need, the father-of-four gave work to Ryan and his brother Nathan.
Their mother, divorcée Delores Ryan, lived in Hornsey Road, opposite the metalworks.
A “committed Christian” like Mr Stoute, she had a “purely platonic relationship” with him but in Dominic Ryan’s warped mind it was a sinister affair, said prosecutor David Waters, QC.
Ryan admitted manslaughter through diminished responsibility. His denial of murder was accepted.
He entered the workshop armed with a knife – it has never been found despite an extensive search – and launched a frenzied attack on Mr Stoute as he worked late on September 15 last year.
“The victim was stabbed in the neck, left arm and groin to a depth of six inches,” said Mr Waters.
The court heard that a neighbour heard raised voices in the workshop shortly before police and an ambulance arrived.
Mrs Ryan found Mr Stoute slumped over a bench. He bled to death within moments but was able to tell her that her son was the attacker.
Anthony Glass, QC, defending, said that it was in the public’s and Ryan’s own interest that he be held indefinitely for treatment. While in a remand centre he had attacked a staff member.
Judge Stephen Kramer, QC, ordered Ryan to be detained under the Mental Health Act for an indefinite period after hearing he posed a “significant risk” to the public.
“Mr Stoute was a much-loved husband and father,” said the judge. |
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