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BROMLEY: Outrage over killer's day release
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| Maureen Johnson and partner John French |
A teenager who fatally stabbed a man in the head with a screwdriver is set to go on day release after just 17 months.
Darrell McLeish was 19 when he was given an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act for killing 29-year-old David Rodway in Bromley town centre.
But two years after the attack it has been revealed McLeish, formerly of Widecombe Road, Mottingham, is set to be allowed to go on day release from his medium-security hospital.
Mr Rodway's family and friends were told the news by Bromley police earlier this month.
His mother Maureen Johnson said: "How can a man who put a screwdriver through my son's head get out after two years?
"It is just so upsetting and I sobbed my heart out when I heard the news.
"I thought after the trial we could relax but then the police turn up out of the blue and tell us he is coming out. I am outraged. He should have been put in prison for what he did to us."
The 54-year-old of Ascot Road, St Paul's Cray, says she still cannot face moving her dead son's possessions from his old room.
She added: "The man who killed my son should have gone to prison. It should have been life for a life.
"It is hell knowing he will be out soon."
A friend of Mr Rodway, who does not wish to be named, says they would be fighting against the "upsetting" decision.
Police found Mr Rodway in East Street, Bromley, with a 16cm screwdriver embedded in his head after a disagreement between him and McLeish on May 6, 2006.
He died two days later in the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.
Judges at the Old Bailey handed McLeish the hospital order on December 15, 2006, after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
At the time of his arrest on May 13, 2006, he asked a police officer: "How long would I have to serve before I go on parole for murder?"
Ms Johnson says she has been told the terms of McLeish's possible day release have yet to been finalised but it is thought he will be accompanied outside hospital grounds by several nurses.
In court, former data engineer McLeish was described by prosecutor Toyin Akinyemi as an "exceptionally violent man" who had used weapons in the past.
He has convictions for common assault on a police officer and inflicting actual bodily harm after attacking a woman with a key.
McLeish also has a conviction for a public order offence, where he threatened a man with a fork in a pub.
It is believed McLeish is in a hospital run by the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services in Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich, but the trust would not confirm this.
An Oxleas spokesman said: "The policy for patients to take leave from the hospital grounds is based on a thorough and comprehensive assessment of risk and, where appropriate, agreed by the Ministry of Justice.
"The safety of the patient and the public is paramount at all times."
10:57am Tuesday 20th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: dave, london on 11:39am Tue 20 May 08
"based on a thorough and comprehensive assessment of risk"
So this murderer who has a history of violent assault with weapons will be allowed on day release after serving just 2 years? If any member of the tax paying public took this decision the outcome would be the complete opposite.
When the revolution comes the muppets who make and rubber-stamp these decisions will be amongst the first against the wall.
Tough on crime my backside.
"based on a thorough and comprehensive assessment of risk"
So this murderer who has a history of violent assault with weapons will be allowed on day release after serving just 2 years? If any member of the tax paying public took this decision the outcome would be the complete opposite.
When the revolution comes the muppets who make and rubber-stamp these decisions will be amongst the first against the wall.
Tough on crime my backside.
Posted by: NG on 11:49am Tue 20 May 08
This country has become a joke. They give the death penalty for this in other countries, not freedom!!! oh well, who am i but another tax paying fool. Lets give murderers a second chance, what a great message. They probably know they'll be let off, with our prisons already full iswell.
I agree, tough on crime my backside.
This country has become a joke. They give the death penalty for this in other countries, not freedom!!! oh well, who am i but another tax paying fool. Lets give murderers a second chance, what a great message. They probably know they'll be let off, with our prisons already full iswell.
I agree, tough on crime my backside.
Posted by: Peter, Amsterdam on 12:17pm Tue 20 May 08
I'm afraid is was all approved by Tony Blair and his fellow masons!
You see, it's all part of the plan. "order through chaos"
I'm afraid is was all approved by Tony Blair and his fellow masons!
You see, it's all part of the plan. "order through chaos"
Posted by: Croyboy on 3:36am Wed 21 May 08
I must say I'm all in favour of the death penalty for the criminally insane in case such as this, for the simple reason they can [italic]never[/italic] be considered safe.
I must say I'm all in favour of the death penalty for the criminally insane in case such as this, for the simple reason they can
never be considered safe.
Posted by: Lisa, Croydon on 8:41am Wed 21 May 08
This is disgusting.
I truly beleive that this country's lack of a decent justice system is going to make people start taking the law into their own hands. I know I would if it was my child!
This is disgusting.
I truly beleive that this country's lack of a decent justice system is going to make people start taking the law into their own hands. I know I would if it was my child!
Posted by: Bill, London on 12:29pm Wed 21 May 08
Death to the criminally insane eh?
It would certainly cut down the number of posts on this website.
Death to the criminally insane eh?
It would certainly cut down the number of posts on this website.
Posted by: Stevie G, Bromley on 4:00pm Wed 21 May 08
Prison for not paying council tax, prison for not seperating your recyclables and yet if you murder someone in what most people would consider an horrific attack you get 17 months? I see there is a lot of talk about him being insane, let me just set the record straight...HE IS NOT. He has previous convictions for a variety of assaults with and without weapons against men and women, he was never considered too ill to be charged before but as soon as he is charged with murder...Ta da! he's crazy, he gets sentenced to a MEDIUM security hospital and after a few months holiday is cured!! (quickest recovery ever...i wonder how long it takes legitimately ill people to recover?)
In my eyes this is playing the system at its worst, if he is too ill to go to jail for murder then he is too ill to leave the hospital.
Oh, and i wonder if he will be charged with the offences he was due to be charged with before the murder (when he admits he wasn't crazy) Of course not!! we'll just wipe those away too!!...i mean, he's suffered enough hasn't he? (i think we all agree he hasn't)
Prison for not paying council tax, prison for not seperating your recyclables and yet if you murder someone in what most people would consider an horrific attack you get 17 months? I see there is a lot of talk about him being insane, let me just set the record straight...HE IS NOT. He has previous convictions for a variety of assaults with and without weapons against men and women, he was never considered too ill to be charged before but as soon as he is charged with murder...Ta da! he's crazy, he gets sentenced to a MEDIUM security hospital and after a few months holiday is cured!! (quickest recovery ever...i wonder how long it takes legitimately ill people to recover?)
In my eyes this is playing the system at its worst, if he is too ill to go to jail for murder then he is too ill to leave the hospital.
Oh, and i wonder if he will be charged with the offences he was due to be charged with before the murder (when he admits he wasn't crazy) Of course not!! we'll just wipe those away too!!...i mean, he's suffered enough hasn't he? (i think we all agree he hasn't)
Posted by: bg, ******* on 8:31pm Sun 25 May 08
[bold]I dont think he has suffered at all..
what a mockery of english justice this is.
He went out with a weapon, he used it, he killed someone.
not crazy, premeditated. we are the ones who are crazy, letting scum get away with it,he knew from his previous crimes he would get a 'slap on the wrist' its amazing how quickly you can fool people into thinking you are all better now.. now that the nasty policemen have gone !!!!! I wonder what will happen next time he assaults or kills someone? which on past evidence he almost certainly will.. will he suddenly have a relapse?
again in sidcup another murder, does anyone think there will be justice there?
English justice is a joke!!!!
I dont think he has suffered at all..
what a mockery of english justice this is.
He went out with a weapon, he used it, he killed someone.
not crazy, premeditated. we are the ones who are crazy, letting scum get away with it,he knew from his previous crimes he would get a 'slap on the wrist' its amazing how quickly you can fool people into thinking you are all better now.. now that the nasty policemen have gone !!!!! I wonder what will happen next time he assaults or kills someone? which on past evidence he almost certainly will.. will he suddenly have a relapse?
again in sidcup another murder, does anyone think there will be justice there?
English justice is a joke!!!!
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