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Van rampage killer to be indefintely detained over death in Cardiff Van rampage killer to be indefinitely detained over death in Cardiff
(about 1 hour later)
A tax-office worker with mental health problems who killed a mother and injured 17 other people when he went on a hit-and-run rampage will be indefinitely detained in a maximum security hospital. A review has been ordered into the care provided to a van driver with mental health problems who has been detained indefinitely at a secure hospital after killing a woman and injuring 17 others during a hit-and-run rampage.
An inquiry is under way into the care provided to Matthew Tvrdon, who targeted families walking home after school. Matthew Tvrdon, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was told by a judge on Thursday that he should expect to spend many years in Ashworth secure psychiatric hospital for using his van as a "weapon" against families walking home from school in Cardiff.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Wyn Griffiths said Tvrdon had used his van as a weapon and told him the attacks on the streets of Cardiff in October last year were "horrific and deliberate". Mr Justice Wyn Griffiths said Trvdon's mental health declined after he phased out medication that had controlled his condition but he did not blame him for cutting out the drugs as he had been advised to do so.
He was detained under the Mental Health Act and will be held at Ashworth hopsital in Merseyside. The judge told Tvrdon he should expect to be detained for a long time. He was also banned from driving for 25 years. The Welsh government has asked the watchdog, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, to carry out a review of Tvrdon's treatment. The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is also investigating the care he received.
Tvrdon, a 32-year-old with paranoid schizophrenia, admitted the manslaughter of Karina Menzies on the grounds of diminished responsibility, seven attempted murders and a string of other offences. Mr Justice Wyn Griffiths told Tvrdon, who followed proceedings via video-link from Ashworth: "Eighteen people were directly affected by your actions - but they have had a much wider impact upon many more. You caused incalculable harm."
Several relatives of victims reacted angrily as sentence was passed. "Is that all he's having?" one man shouted as he left Cardiff crown court in anger.
Tvrdon, a 32-year-old tax office worker, had admitted the manslaughter of Karina Menzies, a mother-of-three, on the grounds of diminished responsibility, seven attempted murders and a string of other offences.
During what was described in court as a 30-minute "journey of mayhem" he ploughed into groups of pedestrians in the Ely and Leckwith areas of the Welsh capital.
Though his victims were strangers, Tvrdon later claimed he believed they had been "gas-lighting" him — trying to make him think he was going insane.Though his victims were strangers, Tvrdon later claimed he believed they had been "gas-lighting" him — trying to make him think he was going insane.
It emerged that Tvrdon had a long history of mental illness and numerous contacts with mental health professionals. In 2011, he was discharged from a psychiatric hospital, not judged to be a danger and was advised to gradually reduce his medication. But in October last year during what was described in court as a 30-minute "journey of mayhem" he ploughed into groups of pedestrians in the Ely and Leckwith areas of the Welsh capital. It emerged that Tvrdon had a long history of mental illness and numerous contacts with mental health professionals. In 2003 Tvrdon had a severe psychotic illness and was admitted to a mental health hospital after jumping out of a window." In 2007 he was apprehended carrying an airgun and was sectioned under the mental health act.
The Cardiff and Vale University health board is investigating the care Tvrdon received. Executive director of nursing, Ruth Walker, said: "In tragic cases such as this, which involve individuals who have links to our mental healthcare services, we routinely conduct an investigation into any care given, in partnership with our local authority colleagues.
"This investigation is currently ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further. However, our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by these events." The Welsh government has said it is considering referring the case for an independent review.
Tvrdon ploughed into mother of three, Karina Menzies, 31, hitting her three times and even reversing to drive over her again. She was hailed a heroine for throwing her two young daughters out of the way.
Prosecuting, Ian Murphy QC said at the start of the sentencing hearing: "It was a journey of mayhem, it covered a distance of eight miles and a duration of 30 minutes." The court was told that in interviews with psychiatrists, Tvrdon claimed he had targeted people who had been "gas-lighting" him.
He said: "I do admit I wanted to kill those people, just recognising the faces of the people who had been involved in the gas-lighting. I just wanted revenge on them."
The term gas-lighting comes from the 1944 Ingrid Bergman film Gaslight, in which a husband tries to convince his wife and other people that she is insane.
Cardiff crown court was told the victims were all strangers to Tvrdon, who had been sleeping rough after falling out with his girlfriend. He had no criminal record and no previous driving offences.
He told psychiatrists: "It all happened in a blur — it was a fast and furious thing that happened. I just ploughed straight into them. I guess I wanted to kill her and her children. I had become really revengeful at that point. I knew I was doing wrong."
In 2003, Tvrdon had a severe psychotic illness and was admitted to a mental health hospital after jumping out of a window. In 2007, he was apprehended carrying an airgun and was sectioned.
It was found he was suffering from auditory hallucinations and believed people were conspiring against him. But he was able to mask the symptoms and convinced a tribunal to release him.It was found he was suffering from auditory hallucinations and believed people were conspiring against him. But he was able to mask the symptoms and convinced a tribunal to release him.
Paul Keleher QC, defending, said: "Because Tvrdon had never displayed any signs of being a danger to himself or anyone else by 2011, he was effectively signed off. He was advised to continue his medication, but to cut it down every two months until stopping completely." In 2011 he was judged not to be a danger and was discharged from a psychiatric hospital. He was also advised to gradually reduce his medication.
The judge told Tvrdon: "As I understand it throughout the period 2003 to 2011 you were treated with appropriate medication for such an illness."
He said that in the year before the events of last October, Tvrdon was advised as an outpatient to phase out his medication over the course of a year.
The judge added: "There can be no doubt that the absence of medication during the period leading to October 2012 had a significant effect upon your health but I do not consider it appropriate to attach any blameworthiness to you for that state of affairs."
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