R v JB (2024)

Tom Oprin-Massey was instructed by Lloyds PR to represent a man accused of attempted murder.

He had stabbed his brother three times after an argument. JB was a paranoid schizophrenic with a long history of poor mental health. He was assessed as being unfit to plead shortly after remand and moved to a secure hospital, where he made sufficient recovery before trial to be found fit to plead again. 

The case concerned a detailed consideration of JB’s mental health, both at the time of offending, and now, and the reports of four medical experts were considered. Ultimately, representations were made as to a plea to an offence contrary to s.20 OAPA being acceptable, which the Crown agreed with, and with which HHJ Aaronberg KC, sitting at Wood Green Crown Court, acknowledged “met the justice in the case”.

JB was sentenced to a Hospital Order.

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