A mother has been left reeling with fury and grief after the man who brutally murdered her daughter was handed a hospital order, avoiding a traditional prison sentence for his horrific crime.
The case, heard at Manchester Crown Court, centred on the death of a young woman savagely beaten and strangled to death by her boyfriend, Tom White, in a fit of jealous rage. White, a self-confessed cannabis addict, was sentenced under the Mental Health Act after claims of his psychological problems were accepted by the court.
A Life Cut Short by Domestic Terror
The victim, whose life was tragically extinguished, had been subjected to a vicious assault in her own home. The court heard how White, consumed by jealousy, launched a brutal attack, ultimately strangling his partner to death. The violent episode has been described as a sustained and terrifying ordeal.
Despite admitting to the act of murder, White's defence successfully argued that his mental state at the time of the offence was severely impaired. This argument formed the basis for the judge's decision to issue a hospital order rather than a life sentence behind bars.
A Mother's Condemnation of a 'Failing' System
The victim's mother has spoken out publicly, expressing her profound devastation and anger at the sentencing. She vehemently believes the mental health defence has been used as a loophole, allowing her daughter's killer to evade the full weight of justice.
In a powerful and emotional statement, she condemned the ruling, stating it fails to adequately punish the crime or protect other potential victims from similar acts of violence. Her outrage highlights a growing national debate about the use of hospital orders in cases of extreme violence and the perceived balance between mental health treatment and criminal punishment.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious questions about the handling of domestic homicide cases within the UK's legal framework.
