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Paranoia 'gripped killer's mind' | Paranoia 'gripped killer's mind' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Paranoia, worsened by cannabis use, led a teenager to stab his friends to death, a court has heard. | Paranoia, worsened by cannabis use, led a teenager to stab his friends to death, a court has heard. |
Thomas Palmer was 18 when Steven Bayliss, 16, and Nuttawut Meechao, 14, were killed in Finchampstead, Berkshire, in September 2005. | Thomas Palmer was 18 when Steven Bayliss, 16, and Nuttawut Meechao, 14, were killed in Finchampstead, Berkshire, in September 2005. |
A consultant psychiatrist told Reading Crown Court how Mr Palmer had been increasingly agitated in the months leading up to the boys' deaths. | |
Mr Palmer, from Blagrove Drive, Wokingham, denies two counts of murder. | Mr Palmer, from Blagrove Drive, Wokingham, denies two counts of murder. |
The jury has been told they must decide if Mr Palmer suffered from "such severe abnormality of mind" that he cannot be held responsible for his action. | The jury has been told they must decide if Mr Palmer suffered from "such severe abnormality of mind" that he cannot be held responsible for his action. |
Suffering hallucinations | Suffering hallucinations |
The court had previously heard how the teenager slit the throat of Steven and stabbed Nuttawut Meechao (known as T.Wood Nadauld). | The court had previously heard how the teenager slit the throat of Steven and stabbed Nuttawut Meechao (known as T.Wood Nadauld). |
Dr Robert Ferris, who treated him since his arrest, told the court Mr Palmer had been suffering from hallucinations. | Dr Robert Ferris, who treated him since his arrest, told the court Mr Palmer had been suffering from hallucinations. |
The consultant psychiatrist said: "I believe that his state of mind at the time of the killing was not normal. | The consultant psychiatrist said: "I believe that his state of mind at the time of the killing was not normal. |
"This was exacerbated, but not caused, by cannabis." | "This was exacerbated, but not caused, by cannabis." |
A tremendous feeling of rage welling up inside Dr Robert Ferris | A tremendous feeling of rage welling up inside Dr Robert Ferris |
He told the jury how the teenager had told police that on the day of the attack - Mr Palmer had "felt uneasy, anxious and paranoid". | He told the jury how the teenager had told police that on the day of the attack - Mr Palmer had "felt uneasy, anxious and paranoid". |
"He was trying to relax but there was an encounter with people who had previously caused the group some trouble," he said. | "He was trying to relax but there was an encounter with people who had previously caused the group some trouble," he said. |
Dr Ferris said the teenager told doctors he was trying to catch his breath when his two friends had tried to reassure him by laying a hand on his back. | Dr Ferris said the teenager told doctors he was trying to catch his breath when his two friends had tried to reassure him by laying a hand on his back. |
"At that point, a tremendous feeling of fear and an idea that they were against him took hold of his mind," he said. | "At that point, a tremendous feeling of fear and an idea that they were against him took hold of his mind," he said. |
"He felt a tremendous feeling of rage welling up inside him. The feelings of anxiety that had developed over many months welled up and he attacked them." | "He felt a tremendous feeling of rage welling up inside him. The feelings of anxiety that had developed over many months welled up and he attacked them." |
Psychiatric nurse | Psychiatric nurse |
He added Mr Palmer had reported symptoms that were not just from drug use but accompany the development of schizophrenia. | He added Mr Palmer had reported symptoms that were not just from drug use but accompany the development of schizophrenia. |
The court was told Mr Palmer's father has worked at Broadmoor Hospital for the last three years, as a psychiatric nurse, but the teenager had not been examined for mental health problems. | The court was told Mr Palmer's father has worked at Broadmoor Hospital for the last three years, as a psychiatric nurse, but the teenager had not been examined for mental health problems. |
Prosecutor Julian Boughon asked Dr Ferris: "Wouldn't you expect him to show some signs of mental illness, some abnormality?" | Prosecutor Julian Boughon asked Dr Ferris: "Wouldn't you expect him to show some signs of mental illness, some abnormality?" |
Dr Ferris answered: "Not necessarily." | Dr Ferris answered: "Not necessarily." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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