Psychotic killer in human rights action

A killer who is refusing to take anti-psychotic drugs has gone to court to stop doctors injecting him against his will.

The man - who can only be called "S" for legal reasons - is using the Human Rights Act to argue his case.

London's High Court heard on Thursday the born-again Christian, from Liverpool, has refused to take the medication as it his against his religious beliefs.

Mr Justice Silber has reserved judgement to a later date as to whether doctors should be allowed to inject S, which his lawyers say would violate his human rights.

S has twice been released from a secure hospital since his mid-1990s conviction, but is now back in custody.

'Medically unnecessary'

Kris Gledhill, who is representing S, told the court to inject him against his will would amount to "torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and would breach his right to respect of his private life.

Mr Gledhill argued evidence suggested S did not require such treatment, and said doctors had not "convincingly shown medical necessity" that he should be injected.

He added that forcibly injecting S with anti-psychotic drugs would "violate his bodily integrity".

However, Elisabeth Laing, for medics overseeing S's treatment, said there evidence suggests he is disturbed and in need of the drugs.

'Revelation by God'

Ms Laing said that during a period of community release he was discovered, in an area where he had offended before, with camping equipment and knives.

She said he also complained of hearing voices outside his flat, and said God had revealed to him he was in danger.

In September last year, a Mental Health Review Tribunal also found he was suffering from chronic "paranoid psychotic mental illness".

S first refused to take his medication in November 2002, and in December obtained a High Court injunction stopping doctors from forcing him to take it.

Doctors disagree

Over the last three days the High Court has heard from three doctors who specialise in mental health issues.

Two say S should be given the drugs, but the third, for the killer, says he doesn't believe there is a medical neccesity for them.

That doctor expressed the view that S has been "fully fit for discharge for many months" and "it is unlikely that the very specific circumstances of the index offences will happen again".

But Mr Justice Silber is not being asked to decide whether S should be released - only whether he should be forced to take the medication.

Recognising the importance of the case, the judge reserved his decision until a later date.

He did not indicate when he would give his ruling.