Hospital order for schizophreniac over killing of his nephew

A 55-YEAR-OLD Belfast man was made the subject of a hospital order yesterday after a jury determined that he killed his nephew.

After deliberating for about four-and-a-half hours, the jury at Belfast Crown Court found that Samuel Morrison “did the act” which caused the death of his nephew George Morrison.

The 29-year-old victim died in the early hours of July 6, 2009, after being stabbed in an alley in the Antrim Road area of the city.

His uncle Samuel was arrested. From Forthriver Park in Belfast, he was initially charged with murder.

However, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was deemed unfit due to this mental disability and therefore unable to plead to the charge or participate in the proceedings.

A two-week trial was held in Belfast to “determine the facts” and the jury was asked to find whether Samuel Morrison did or didn’t do the act of killing his nephew.

After spending several hours

Hospitalised: Samuel Morrison

deliberating, the foreman of the jury confirmed they had not reached a unanimous decision, but had reached a decision on which 10 or more were agreed.

Asked by the court clerk whether they had determined if Samuel Morrison did the act or did not do the act, the foreman replied that “he did the act”.

Mr Justice Colton said that due to the nature of the hearing and the jury’s determination, he was making Morrison the subject of a hospital order.

The judge told the jury: “Hopefully the defendant will receive the medical treatment he needs.”

Samuel Morrison, who is currently housed in Maghaberry, watched the start of the hearing via video-link.

However, after several outbursts, prompting warnings from Mr Justice Colton that this behaviour would not be tolerated, the video-link was switched off.

During the course of the trial the jury heard evidence from police, the pathologist, from friends of the Morrison family and from local residents.

The deceased sustained knife wounds in the attack which occurred at the junction of Brookhill Avenue and Allworthy Avenue. One chest wound penetrated his heart, and an attempt was made to cut his throat.

His uncle was seen bare-chested in the area immediately after the stabbing.

He arrived at a friend’s house in the early hours with blood on his chest and white tracksuit bottoms, and when she asked him what happened, he told her he stabbed Geordie five times and slit his throat.