Teenager accused of Wellingborough murder claims mental disorder impaired actions
Psychologist says mental disorder impaired judgment
A 13-year-old girl, accused of fatally stabbing a woman is claiming manslaughter by diminished responsibility, citing mental health issues, a Wellingborough court has heard.
The teenager, who cannot be named due to her age, denies murdering Marta Bednarczyk, 43, who was found dead in March at a property in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Ms Bednarczyk sustained over 140 knife wounds during the attack.
Giving evidence during the trial, expert witness Sir Simon Baron-Cohen said he believed the girl suffered from a distressing dissociative disorder that substantially impaired her ability to understand her actions, form rational judgment, and exercise self-control.
The defendant told the court she had been hearing voices months before the killing, which urged her to harm others. She admitted to looking at a website containing graphic images out of curiosity.
In his testimony, Sir Simon described how he assessed the teenager, who was “sometimes smiling” and communicative, despite suffering from several medical conditions. Referring to the voices, Sir Simon said, “I think that contributed to the attack…as she reports the voices were telling her she was in danger and telling her to attack the person.”
Under questioning from defence barrister Mary Prior KC, Sir Simon agreed that the mental disorder explained the defendant’s actions during the killing and impaired critical areas of reasoning.
Earlier in the trial, the defendant refuted claims by Crown counsel Samuel Skinner KC that she intended to cause death. The prosecutor argued the reasons for the killing might never be fully known but were unrelated to the teen’s mental health condition.
The trial at Lincoln Crown Court, heard at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court, is scheduled to continue on Friday.