September 13, 2012

Stabbing followed release from mental hospital

By David Clarkson. Updated report.

Ninety minutes after his release on weekend leave as a mental patient from Hillmorton Hospital, a 33-year-old stabbed a man at a community care house in Addington.

The victim went to the house to visit Regan Vaughan Pasfield on February 1 but quickly ended up with multiple stab wounds, including one to his neck, and Pasfield was charged with attempted murder.

The case came to an end in the High Court at Christchurch today with agreement by counsel, and a finding by Justice John Fogarty that Pasfield was not guilty by reason of insanity.

The case has been through the process for a psychiatric discharge ? reports from a psychiatrist and a psychologist were before the court today ? after Pasfield?s indication that he would plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Justice Fogarty made an order for Pasfield to be detained as a special patient under the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act.

Defence counsel Craig Ruane said he supported that recommendation, and Crown prosecutor Brent Stanaway said the prosecution accepted that not guilty by reason of insanity was the only reasonable verdict.

The health professionals who wrote reports were familiar with Pasfield and his treatment.

A hearing has already been held before another judge to establish the facts of the case.

Psychiatric reports on Pasfield?s fitness to plead were ordered soon after he was arrested in February charged with the attempted murder of the 39-year-old victim who had also been a patient in mental health care.

Justice Fogarty read the reports and said it was clear that expert clinicians were satisfied that Pasfield held delusional beliefs and had been acting in response to those beliefs and his schizophrenia at the time of the incident.

Stanaway said that having made the finding of not guilty by reason of insanity, there was a requirement for a court order for disposition of the case. He noted that the fact the stabbing occurred less than two hours after Pasfield?s release from hospital on weekend leave showed that he posed a serious risk.

Update:?The police say the attack occurred about 4.30pm on February 1 when the victim went to Pasfield?s address in Addington. As he approached the house, Pasfield took a 10cm pocket knife and walked out to meet him.

Without warning, he stabbed the victim in the neck and pulled the blade down, causing a large cut and slicing the jugular vein.

The victim ran off and Pasfield chased him, and jumped on him ? breaking his ankle ? when he fell in the driveway.

Pasfield then stabbed him several times on his body, and the victim received deep defensive wounds to his arms and hands.

The attack stopped when neighbours intervened. Pasfield went to his flat where he showered and changed his clothing.

When the police interviewed him, he said he stabbed the man because he believed he was ?the beast?.