Category: Murder

Shocking moment cannabis-smoking child killer, 17, butchers boy, 14, with machete outside chicken shop then flees in ‘senseless’ murder committed while thug was on bail for carrying large knife – as he is jailed for life

Daily Mail | 9th May 2023

In a ‘ferocious’ attack, Marques Walker, 17, stabbed Jermaine Cools, 14, seven times as he lay defenceless on the ground outside a chicken shop in Croydon, London, on November 18, 2021.

Walker pleaded guilty to Jermaine’s murder and possessing a knife earlier this year, and was jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years this afternoon…

The court also heard that Walker was under the influence of cannabis, which the Judge noted he was ‘dependent’ [sic]. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12064025/Child-killer-17-stabbed-boy-14-death-outside-chicken-shop-sentenced-TV-today.html

Filed under murder.

Dealer hitman Thomas Cashman, 34, found guilty of murdering nine-year-old

Daily Mail | 30th March 2023

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11914675/Drug-dealer-guilty-murdering-Olivia-Pratt-Korbel-shooting-dead.html

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Giving evidence, Cashman said he left school when he was 13 or 14, finding work delivering newspapers and washing cars before getting a job on fairgrounds in Wales.

By the age of 16 or 17 he was smoking cannabis on a daily basis, he said, making selling it a natural progression.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11914675/Drug-dealer-guilty-murdering-Olivia-Pratt-Korbel-shooting-dead.html

Filed under murder.

Drug addict who left his girlfriend’s 15-month-old son with black eyes so swollen ‘he looked like a panda’ and renamed his bedroom ‘the torture chamber’ before killing him during campaign of ‘sadistic’ abuse is found guilty of murder

Daily Mail | 17th March 2023

Drug addict Jake Drummond, 33, who would smoke 10 or 15 cannabis spliffs a day, fatally shook and hit 15-month-old Jacob Lennon early on August 27 2019, leaving him with a face like a ‘panda’, the Old Bailey heard.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11872891/Drug-addict-guilty-murdering-15-month-old-baby-sustained-campaign-sadistic-abuse.html

Filed under murder.

Killer screamed ‘I am God’ after stabbing elderly neighbour to death in Notting Hill

My London | 23rd January 2023

In November, Cook pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Doctors said it took 14 months for his psychotic symptoms to be brought under control. He admitted smoking a cannabis joint earlier that day which he believes caused his outburst, but doctors said the drug exacerbated but did not induce his psychotic episode.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/schizophrenic-screamed-i-am-god-26048707

Christina Anderson pleads guilty to manslaughter as murder charge dropped

Irish Times | 13th January 2023

Michael O’Higgins SC, who acted for Ms Anderson, said the plea decision was taken “after lengthy consideration and appraisal of this case”. He said there were “ongoing difficulties on the defence side” arising from a report by consultant psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy and the decision to plead guilty to manslaughter was informed by those difficulties. The court has previously heard that Professor Kennedy disagreed with Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant psychiatrist called by the defence, who said that Ms Anderson was suffering from bipolar affective disorder and as a result of her mental disorder she was unable to refrain from stabbing Mr Kelly.

Professor Kennedy, the court heard during cross examination of Dr Wright, had written a report in which he said that Ms Anderson’s behaviour was better explained by cannabis intoxication. Intoxication cannot be used as a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006…

Ms Anderson of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, stabbed Mr Kelly five times as he tried to start his car outside her home at about 7am on the morning of February 25, 2020.

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2023/01/13/christina-anderson-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter-as-murder-charge-dropped/

‘I’ve murdered four people’: Chilling moment ‘truly evil’ boyfriend is arrested after murdering his pregnant partner, her son, 13, raping and killing her daughter, 11, and bludgeoning her friend to death – as he is given a whole life term

Daily Mail | 21st December 2022

The court heard Bendall had a meeting that day with a court-appointed drugs supervisor, who felt he was not under the influence of drink and drugs.

Bendall told the supervisor he was abstaining.

By 7.40pm, the defendant was out and phone records ‘make clear he was buying and smoking cannabis.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11562327/Truly-evil-sleepover-killer-die-bars-Boyfriend-given-life-term-murders.html

PETER HITCHENS: We have always had murderers – but as the ‘Attacker Smoked Cannabis’ website records, now something far more cruel is in our midst

Mail on Sunday | 30th October 2022

When Freda Walker opened her back door to let her cat out one night last January, she let Hell into her home. It came in the form of Vasile Culea. He seems to have sneaked in while she was not looking[…]

All I can say about that is that the grotesque fury and savagery of his behaviour is horribly like that of many criminals whose merciless actions are listed on the website ‘Attacker Smoked Cannabis’. This is compiled from hundreds of local media reports by Ross Grainger. Yes, our society has always had murderers and thieves in it, but something far more cruel is now in our midst. Who will put this right?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-11368907/PETER-HITCHENS-murderers.html

Edward Reeve: Two teens jailed for stabbing vulnerable man to death

BBC News | 28th September 2022

Two teenagers who befriended a vulnerable man before stabbing him to death in his own home have been jailed.

Jack Hindley and Samuel Jones, both 17, killed 35-year-old Edward Reeve in Christchurch, Dorset, on 31 December.

Winchester Crown Court heard the pair “berated” Mr Reeve in front of their friends before stabbing him eight times and fist-bumping in celebration.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-63047354

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Bournemouth Echo

“Whilst there the two defendants were smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol. The group moved up to the music. 

“[O]ne girl described how the defendants came into the music room and moved a chest of drawers in front of the door, preventing him from coming back in.

“They began to punch the walls, causing damage to the plaster. The girls began screaming at them to stop which they did, Mr Reeve came back asking why are they trashing the house.”

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20253684.edward-reeve-murder-trial-live-updates-case-opening/

‘Innocent and defenceless’ – the night of alcohol and drugs that ended with the murder of toddler Santina Cawley

Irish Independent | 17th May 2022

An alcohol- and drug-fuelled night led to the horrific beating to death of “an innocent and defenceless” two-year-old girl.

Karen Harrington (38) was jailed for life after a Central Criminal Court jury found her guilty by unanimous verdict of the shocking killing of Santina Cawley (2)…

Earlier that evening, after several hours of drinking and smoking cannabis, Harrington had gone home in tears after being called “a prostitute” by Mr Cawley who also accused her of being with “foreigners”.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/innocent-and-defenceless-the-night-of-alcohol-and-drugs-that-ended-with-the-murder-of-toddler-santina-cawley-41656597.html

Hero Brit backpacker died trying to save woman from frenzied knife attack

Daily Mirror | 13th April 2022

A hero backpacker who tried to save the life of a fellow traveller during a “frenzied knife attack” died when he was stabbed in the head in an Australian hostel.

Thomas Leslie Jackson, from Cheshire , bravely went to the aid of fellow Brit Mia Ayliff-Chung when she had been stabbed several times at Home Hill, Queensland.

Miss Ayliff-Chung, from Derbyshire, was pronounced dead at the scene while Mr Jackson died from his severe injuries in Townsville Hospital six days later, Cheshire Live reports.

An inquest into Mr Jackson’s death heard French backpacker Smail Ayad carried out the attack while ‘psychotic and under the influence of cannabis’.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hero-brit-backpacker-died-trying-26700165

Although this murder took place in Australia, I have added it to the site (which heretofore featured only crimes from the UK and Ireland) because the victim was British.

Doctor murdered in homophobic attack by two men and teenage girl

Wales Online | 3rd February 2022

A doctor was murdered in a homophobic attack carried out by two men and a teenage girl in a Cardiff park after they targeted a gay man to rob.

Dr Gary Jenkins, 54, was brutally beaten, kicked and punched to death in Bute Park in the early hours of July 20 last year.

Audio of the horrendous attack, carried out by Jason Edwards, 25, Lee Strickland, 36, and Dionne Timms-Williams, 17, depicted Dr Jenkins pleading for help and for his attacks to “Leave me alone” but his cries were left unheeded…

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Witness Owain Hill explains how the encounter with the group he met in Bute Park in the early hours of July 20 last year developed…

“There’s a wooden seating area we sat on behind the Summerhouse Cafe and they just asked me about being gay. The one who was originally sat down he started lighting a cigaretts of cannabis I think.

“In that moment I started getting uncomfortable and made an excuse to leave… I believe I said I had work in the morning so had to go… I just felt they were really intoxicated and by that point I had sobered up and didn’t want to be around that.

“I thought they were pressuring me to drink with them and they were going to pressure me into smoking with them which I didn’t want to do, I wanted to leave really.”

*****

Edwards says he hadn’t taken cannabis or crack on the day in question, and had only drunk alcohol – he puts his level of intoxication as seven out of 10.

In response to questions from officers the defendants says he takes cannabis to make him “calmer”, and that he takes it because he is no longer given Rital for his ADHD.

Officer: “How much do you smoke?”

Edwards: “Enough.”

Officer: “How much does it cost you?”

Edwards: “No comment.”

*****

Edwards says he was unable to get cannabis or crack in the city centre on the day in question but that friends he wouldn’t name had bought him alcohol. He denies committing crime to buy drugs, saying his use is funded through benefits and his nan.

He says he uses cannabis as “self-medication”.

The jury is now hearing details of another interview with Edwards. When the officer mentions CCTV audio from the Summerhouse Cafe in Bute Park the defendant said he has remembered being chased by undercover police officers in the early hours of the morning. He said he ran from officers because he had cannabis on him, and did not want to get caught, and that he hid in a block of flats before going home.

Asked why he had not mentioned this incident before, Edwards replied: “It’s only just coming back to me.” The defendant says cannabis affects his memory and that he is addicted to it, calling it his “medication”. Edwards describes his use of crack cocaine as a “hobby”.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bute-park-murder-trial-court-22849979

Nelson man psychotic after years of taking cannabis and cocaine killed his dad

Lancashire Telegraph | 3rd December 2021

The court heard how Walker, who was a habitual cannabis and cocaine user, first taking the class B drug aged 11, and later aged 25 beginning to use the class A stimulant, had been sectioned in April last year, just weeks before he killed his own father, due to erratic behaviour caused by a withdrawal from prescribed anti-depressants and an adverse reaction to lockdown restrictions, which had left him paranoid.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19759182.nelson-man-psychotic-years-taking-cannabis-cocaine-killed-dad/

Three recently added stories

First, the sentencing of Zephaniah McLeod for a murderous rampage in Birmingham last year: Zephaniah McLeod: Birmingham stabbing spree killer sentenced

High on cannabis and cocaine at the time of the attacks, McLeod was well know to health services and had previous convictions for drug offences, amongst others.

Next, the heinous killing of 25-year-old Lauren Bloomer last year by her boyfriend Jake Nolman after he had suffered an ‘adverse’ reaction to eating cannabis-infused cakes: Man ‘killed girlfriend after eating cannabis cake’.

Both stories have been filed under murder.

And finally, Kasim Hussain, who first stabbed and very nearly killed a university lecturer three years ago, before being let out on bail and stabbing a second victim: University lecturer 1cm from death as knifeman plunged blade into back during random attack.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Kelson, describing Hussain’s drug consumption, said: “It’s about time the users of cannabis woke up to the fact many people suffer psychological harm from taking that drug.”

Filed under violence.

‘Despicable’ man bludgeoned ‘caring and kind’ neighbour to death with wood carving

My London | 9th September 2021

Judge Marks QC told Osei: “Doctors all agree at the time of the offences you were suffering from schizoaffective disorder compounded by substance misuse, namely cannabis.

“It is a very relevant consideration that for a number of months you had been non-compliant with your medication.

“You had been suffering from this illness for about the last 18 years and that had resulted in numerous hospital admissions.

“It is evident from the violent nature of this attack when you are not well and not properly medicated you are capable of being extremely dangerous.”

https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/despicable-man-bludgeonedcaring-kindneighbour-death-21518269

A selection of recently added stories

Although the summer holidays for us teachers are nearly over, I’ve only just had time to update this site. Here are some of the stories I’ve added:

Teen convicted of Roberts Buncis’ murder, facing life sentence

The Lincolnite | 5th July 2021

A 15-year-old boy who tried to decapitate a 12-year-old during a ferocious attack in which he stabbed the younger boy more than 70 times is facing a life sentence after a jury this afternoon (Mon) convicted him of murder.

During the savage attack the teenager attempted to cut off Roberts’ head and one of his hands. One of the blows caused the blade of the knife to snap with the tip left embedded in Roberts’ skull.

Teen convicted of Roberts Buncis’ murder, facing life sentence

‘Killer caught brazenly smoking cannabis in front of police is spared prison’

Greenock Telegraph | 14th April, 2020 |

A CONVICTED killer caught brazenly smoking cannabis in front of police in the street has been spared prison because it was his first offence in five months since his release from his last jail term.

Stephen Shields — who was most recently locked up for a vicious head-kicking assault on a woman — was puffing on a joint in Port Glasgow’s Oronsay Avenue, when patrol officers spotted him.

Shields, 38, stubbed it out on the ground and then obstructed officers from carrying out a drug search by placing a piece of cannabis resin in his mouth and swallowing it.

He was previously sentenced to six years imprisonment for carrying out a fatal stabbing in the Port’s Rona Avenue in 2003.

Prosecutor Frankie Morgan said of Shields’ latest offences, committed on January 23: “This was 10.30am when police on patrol observed the accused at the locus, which is a residential area.

“Officers saw him smoking what appeared to be a reefer and there was a smell of cannabis.

“The accused was detained for a search.

“He was asked to put the joint out.

“He bent over and stubbed it on the ground and handed it to an officer.

“As he did so, he removed an item from his pocket, placed it in his mouth and swallowed it.

“The accused stated, ‘It was just a bit for a joint — I should have given it to you’.”

Shields pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin and to intentionally obstructing three police officers.

His not guilty plea to a charge of struggling violently with the PCs was accepted.

Shields, formally of Port Glasgow but now residing in Inverkip Street, Greenock, was also jailed in 2011 for a brutal baseball attack on a man.

He served his latest sentence last year after being found guilty of savagely punching and booting a woman in the Port’s Pladda Avenue.

Shields punched her on the head, caused her to fall to the ground, sat on top of her, seized her throat, repeatedly punched her on the body and kicked her on the head, all to her injury.

In 2003 he stabbed William Lyall, who was dating his sister at the time, twice — severing one of his arteries and causing him to bleed to death.

Sheriff Lindsay Kooner noted that there has been ‘nothing since his release from custody last August’.

The sheriff fined Shields a total of £385 for the cannabis offences.

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/18372684.killer-caught-brazenly-smoking-cannabis-front-police-spared-prison/

Residents raised fears over killer McIntosh, months before attack on Dundee woman Linda

Dundee Evening Telegraph | 23rd August 2019 |

 “People were very worried – McIntosh was behaving in a very strange way that was drawing attention – including smoking cannabis in the garden at 4am.”

Residents in the tiny village where murderer Robbie McIntosh was released on home leave have revealed they warned authorities he would strike again – three months before his brutal attack on Linda McDonald.

Locals in Bridgefoot aired their fears at a meeting of Strathmartine Community Council in May 2017.

They also spoke to two local councillors, Craig Fotheringham and Beth Whiteside, asking the elected officials to intervene on their behalf and prevent the killer being released back into their community.

Some residents even admitted to being so worried at the time of McIntosh’s release that they stopped going for solitary walks and some women even began taking self-defence classes.

McIntosh was on day release from prison at the time of the violent attack on Ms McDonald, as he served a life sentence for stabbing dog walker Anne Nicoll to death on the Law in 2002 when he was just 15.

He was allowed out of prison on home leave and stayed with his mum in her flat in Bridgefoot in May 2017.

During that time his presence was closely monitored by concerned locals.

Now the community council has broken its silence on McIntosh’s presence in Bridgefoot at the time of his attack on Mrs McDonald, following news the victim’s wait for a significant case review has been extended even further.

Mrs McDonald has been told she could face another Christmas without answers over why McIntosh was released.

And a spokesman for the council revealed: “People were very worried – McIntosh was behaving in a very strange way that was drawing attention – including smoking cannabis in the garden at 4am.

“His presence was discussed at the meeting and we asked if anything could be done to monitor his activities and behaviour. The community police officer present advised us there was nothing the police could do as McIntosh ‘hadn’t done anything’.

“People were very worried and we were being told the police had no powers to do anything.”

The spokesman added: “Our fears were justified. When we heard about the attack on Mrs McDonald there was widespread horror.Locals were left horrified when McIntosh carried out his attack on Mrs McDonald.

“We had flagged up our concerns about him three months previously but no action was taken and he was able to strike again.”

Residents had also brought the issue up with Councillors Whiteside and Fotheringham before McIntosh’s second attack took place.

Ms Whiteside said: “I was approached by a few constituents over their concerns that McIntosh was being left free to roam locally.

“I raised the matter with Angus Council and received an assurance he would be closely monitored.

“I had to accept that. Unfortunately, as we now know, he was not being monitored and was able to carry out his horrendous attack.”

Police Scotland declined to comment until after the SRI is published.Mr Fotheringham, who was also at the community council meeting in May 2017, added: “I’m aware Councillor Whiteside raised the matter and received assurances.”

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/residents-raised-fears-over-killer-mcintosh-months-before-attack-on-dundee-woman-linda/