Hospital order for man who fatally stabbed pensioner
Frederick Burge was killed in February 2023
- Published
A man who travelled hundreds of miles from his home with a kitchen knife and killed a pensioner has been given a hospital order.
James O’Connor, from Dundee, stabbed 89-year-old Frederick Burge at his house in Glastonbury, Somerset.
The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility earlier this year.
He was given an indefinite hospital order on Tuesday and will be detained at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital under section 37 of the Mental Health Act.
Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court, Mr Burge's son Kevin Burge said: "The sentence today was justice and I'm very happy with that.
The court was told O'Connor had been hearing voices and believed he needed to kill someone in the hope it would end what he believed to be a curse on himself.
Frederick Burge was found dead at his home in Glastonbury
He spent the night before Mr Burge's death on Glastonbury Tor and then killed him on 26 February 2023.
The 89-year-old was found dead by his son and had nine stab wounds to his chest, as well as cuts on his arms and hands.
CCTV from a neighbour showed O'Connor had gone to the house, killed Mr Burge and then left again in a two minute period.
He was arrested on 5 March 2023 and admitted to Broadmoor on 19 July.
'Depth of agony'
The court was told a psychiatrist's report showed O'Connor to be very mentally unwell.
Rehabilitation through the correct medication had led to big changes in his awareness of his behaviour and its impact on others, Bristol Crown Court was told.
Judge Julian Lambert told Mr Burge’s family: "I've worked with words all my life… and I can hardly express the depth of agony you must have gone through.
"The legal process can seem terribly hollow when you look at the tragedy that happened here."
Mr Burge's family described the 89-year-old as the "best dad, grandad, great-grandad and great-great-grandad in the world".
Kevin Burge said "justice" had been achieved for his father
In a victim statement read to the court, Kevin Burge added: "He was a special person to everyone around him.
"I spoke to him every day and he made me so happy.
"I cannot describe how devastated I am to know I will never see him or hear his voice again."
He added: "My father knew how much he was loved. He has now been reunited with my lovely mother for all time."
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