Hostel killer had drug psychosis, inquest told
AFORMER convict who fatally attacked a young woman just two weeks after being released from prison had symptoms of drug-induced psychosis, an inquest heard.
Matthew Williams was 34 and Cerys Yemm was 22 when they died at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel in Argoed, Blackwood, in the early hours of November 6, 2014.
An inquest at Gwent Coroner’s Court in Newport heard that Williams was a teenager when he was first diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Giving evidence, consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Shuja Reagu, who saw Williams in HM Parc Prison, said he wanted to re-assess that diagnosis.
The inquest heard Dr Reagu assessed Williams in July 2014, when he stated he had not taken his anti-psychotic medication for several days and wanted to try without it for longer.
Dr Reagu noted his overall health was good, he was participating well in the prison gym and was carrying out a “responsible” job on the wing as a barber, trusted with sharp objects.
The psychiatrist noted Williams was not showing any psychotic symptoms and had “no objections” to him coming off the medication, as it would help him to re-assess the diagnosis.
He said Williams was last prescribed anti-psychotic medication on June 26, 2014.
The inquest heard he was seen by psychiatric nurses on August 5, August 26 and September 19 and they observed his manner was “pleasant” with good eye contact.
Dr Reagu said Williams was planning to live with his mother and work with his father after leaving prison.
There was a plan in place for him to visit his GP to ask for a referral to the community mental health team if he had any concerns about his mental health.
The inquest heard the psychiatrist last reviewed him on September 24, 2014 and recorded he was not displaying any signs of psychosis.
Williams was assessed by a psychiatric nurse the day before his release and left the prison with no prescription for anti-psychotic medication.
Asked about the diagnosis, Dr Reagu said: “It was clear that it was not schizophrenia.”
He told the hearing that he concluded Williams had druginduced psychotic symptoms.
The inquest heard the Probation Service judged Williams to present a high risk of reoffending and a medium risk to the public.
He was released from prison in October 2014 and attacked Miss Yemm about two weeks later after meeting on a night out in Blackwood. They both died at the scene.
The inquest continues.