Anand Beharrylal KC successfully represents defendant charged with murder

B was arrested by police following the fatal stabbing of an elderly man on a mobility scooter. B had suffered from and exhibited signs of mental illness, but which had remained undetected and undiagnosed for a long period of time. Despite a listing for trial the defence raised a number of concerns about B’s mental health and highly disturbed hallucinatory behaviour, which had continued to deteriorate. The court ordered B to be transferred to a psychiatric hospital. After a period of observation, assessment and treatment in a high security psychiatric hospital it was discovered that B suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was in the grips of active psychosis at the time of the offence. The prosecution subsequently accepted guilty pleas to manslaughter and possession of a knife on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

At sentencing, which was broadcasted, the court had to consider a custodial sentence, hybrid order and hospital order. Following the calling of psychiatric evidence and submissions B was made subject to a hospital order with restriction.

Anand Beharrylal KC led Malik Alderi instructed by Ricky Arora of Messrs ALH Solicitors.

Press:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68991020

https://news.sky.com/story/man-who-killed-87-year-old-mobility-scooter-rider-days-after-prison-release-detained-in-hospital-indefinitely-13132658

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lee-byer-thomas-ohalloran-jailed-b2541841.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/10/man-detained-indefinitely-killing-mobility-scooter-rider-london-lee-byer-thomas-ohalloran