Soldier's 'personality disorder'

Private Dobson was serving at Marchwood Military Port

A soldier who strangled his best friend and then tried to resuscitate him is suffering from a borderline personality disorder, a court heard.

Anthony Stewart, 27, from Portsoy, Scotland, murdered Andrew Dobson, 23, from Dumfries, at Marchwood Military Port, Hampshire, the jury was told.

Mr Stewart had 16 indicators of the disorder, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Mr Stewart denies the murder but admits manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

Forensic psychologist Dr Ludwig Lowenstein told the court psychometric tests showed Mr Stewart exhibited signs of the personality disorder that included relationship problems, deceit and manipulation, and hearing voices.

Army criticised

Dr Lowenstein told the court on Tuesday Mr Stewart's friendship with Mr Dobson raised his very low self esteem.

"It's difficult to comprehend that the one person in the world to which he was close, he planned to kill," he said.

"This doesn't make sense."

Dr Lowenstein also criticised the army for reprimanding Mr Stewart instead of treating him when he came to them for help with his self-harming.

Earlier, Janice Brennan, QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Stewart could have killed Mr Dobson because he was about to be discharged from the army while Mr Dobson was soon to be promoted.

The court heard how on 17 November 2002, the two friends had been relaxing in their shared barrack room when Mr Stewart went behind Mr Dobson, placed a rifle sling around his neck, and strangled him with it.

The trial continues.