A 13-year-old girl who stabbed a woman to death was in the grip of a 'distressing' mental disorder that robbed her of clear thought and self-control, a murder trial has heard.
Expert Evidence on Mental State
Clinical psychologist and expert witness Sir Simon Baron-Cohen told jurors the teenager, who cannot be named, was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning at the time of the killing. He stated this condition substantially impaired her ability to understand her conduct, form rational judgement, and exercise self-control.
The girl denies murdering 43-year-old Marta Bednarczyk in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in March. She has admitted unlawfully killing her but pleads guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Voices and a 'Gruesome' Website
The court was told the defendant had been plagued by voices instructing her to harm others in the months before the attack. This followed her viewing a 'gruesome' execution website out of curiosity.
Sir Simon told the court he believed the voices 'contributed to the attack', as she reported they told her she was in danger and to attack the person. Ms Bednarczyk was found dead having suffered more than 140 knife wounds inflicted by more than one weapon.
Describing her state during assessments, Sir Simon said the defendant presented as 'very communicative' and 'sometimes smiling', but was battling dissociative disorders and severe psychological symptoms.
The Defendant's Account
Concluding her evidence, the teenager denied she intended to cause death. She described the fatal attack to the jury of 11 at Lincoln Crown Court, where the trial is being heard.
'It felt like my entire mind shut down,' she said. 'I just wasn't in control of my own body – it was as if it was moving on its own. It's as if my head was separated from my body.'
She said she heard a mix of male and female voices telling her she was in danger, alongside a buzzing noise. 'I felt as if there was a path leading me somewhere and my body was just following that path. I only remember that my body just lunged forward,' she added.
The prosecution, led by Samuel Skinner KC, has suggested the killing may have nothing to do with the girl's mental health, stating the true motive may never be known. The trial continues.
