"Voices in head" led to hammer attack claim
A DERBY man claimed "voices in his head" told him to attack a passer-by with a claw hammer in a city street.
Derby Crown Court heard yesterday that the attack by Fosi Farah left Ian Wright, 53, with a 3cm gash in his skull and terrifying flashbacks.
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Derby Crown Court
Gillian Foxcroft, prosecuting, said Mr Wright had been walking along Green Lane, towards a bank when the attack happened.
She said: "He had walked past a man holding a bottle of alcohol.
"Soon after, he realised he was being followed and suddenly he felt a thud on the top of his head."
She said Mr Wright turned and saw the man he had passed earlier coming towards him armed with a hammer.
In interviews, Mr Wright said 43-year-old Farah seemed to be trying to attack him again. He kicked out at his attacker, who then dropped the hammer and ran off.
Ms Foxcroft said that Farah, of Wilson Street, Derby, told a nearby policeman what he had done.
She said: "He could not give a reason why he had done it, other than the voices in his head told him to."
Farah pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
Judge Andrew Hamilton ordered that Farah should be detained in a mental health hospital and undertake medical treatment.
It will be for an unspecified length of time, until doctors feel it is safe to release him.
He said: "It is clear from the evidence that you are suffering from a mental illness.
"If there was not a medical disposal I would take the view that this man was extremely dangerous and would lock him up for life."
Ms Foxcroft said witnesses had seen Farah swing the hammer up high and bring it down on the victim's skull.
Other witnesses said the attack and the victim's screaming and shouting afterwards was "a terrible thing both to see and hear".
Somalian-born Farah had been living in the UK for a number of years. He was unemployed at the time of the attack.
Peter Pimm, in mitigation, said Farah had been suffering from schizophrenia for more than 15 years and had experienced suicidal tendencies.
The court ordered the destruction of the hammer.
5 Comments
by ramfangazman, Spondon
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 3:16PM
“very well put claire”
by claire, Derby
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 2:44PM
“After seeing the documentary on BBC2 regarding murders committed by people on the Mental Health Register I feel this case raises further the issue of Care in the Community. Whilst I feel there are a lot of people with mental health problems who can be and should be cared for in this way, I think there are far too many people for who this approach is not only incorrect but unsafe for them and others. I think more often than not this comes down to budget restraints but how many more people have to be attacked or worse before more money is put in to mental health allowing the people that should be treated in a hospital environment to be looked after in this manner. Whilst I appreciate current economic circumstances means that budget cuts are more likely than increases, surely there shouldn't be a cost on public safety.”
by ramfangazman, Spondon
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 2:26PM
“We can't deport him, he has human rights, unlike the law abiding citezens like us who pay our taxes and want to go about our lives with the most basic of human rights; to not have to live in fear.
horrible, horrible mess. i'd like to see him hung, but that's me.”
by Angela, Derby
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 1:14PM
“Suicidal tendencies? Pity he didn't follow through with them, the man attacked with a hammer wouldn't have been hurt then. Send him back to Somalia, they can deal with him.”
by Dave, Long Eaton
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 12:36PM
“Deport him!”