Parents had begged NHS to help their son before he carried out horror killing
A SCHIZOPHRENIC who killed a dog walker after brutally assaulting a couple in woodland was yesterday sent to the State Hospital.
A judge ordered that David Johnstone should be held in conditions of special security at Carstairs and made a restriction order without limit of time for the protection of the public from serious harm.
Johnstone’s spree of violence left 83-year- old Frank Kinnis dead and two other victims injured.
His parents had twice contacted NHS 24 to have their son sectioned because of concerns about his wellbeing. A family doctor had also made an urgent referral to a psychiatrist for him but he did not attend.
A psychiatrist told the High Court in Edinburgh that Johnstone, 36, had psychotic symptoms for about three years before the attacks.
Dr Natasha Billcliff, 50, said that Johnstone, of Elgin, Moray, was ‘paranoid and edgy with other people’ and had been a cannabis smoker from the age of 14, if not younger.
She said he has been treated with antipsychotic medication and shown a ‘remarkable’ improvement.
Defence counsel Ian Duguid, QC, said: ‘Now that he realises the consequences of his actions, he is full of regret and remorse for what took place, without ever having appreciated it at the time it was happening.’
Johnstone, a design technician, was originally charged with murdering Mr
‘Cannabis smoker from the age of 14’
Kinnis on October 21 last year at Linkwood Farm, near Elgin, by putting an arm around his throat and kicking him and stamping on his head.
He was also charged with attempting to murder Morris and Janette
Smith, both then aged 70, on the same day at Birkenhill Woods, near New Elgin. Mr Smith was repeatedly struck and punched on the head and kicked and stamped on and his wife was repeatedly punched and kicked.
Johnstone was also charged with assaulting Police Constables Mitchell Dickson and Iain Meggat at Birkenhill, Elgin, on October 21.
PC Dickson was repeatedly punched on the head and an attempt was made to punch PC Meggat.
Johnstone pleaded not guilty to the offences on the basis that he was not criminally responsible for his conduct because of a mental disorder and the Crown accepted the plea. He was acquitted of the offences.
Judge Lord Uist said: ‘I am satisfied having regard to the offences with which you were charged, the psychiatric evidence presented to me, the mental health officer’s report and all the circumstances that a compulsion order in respect of you is necessary.
‘I therefore make such an order authorising your detention in the State Hospital as I am satisfied that you require to be detained in hospital under conditions of special security.’
The judge added that it was necessary for the protection of the public to impose a restriction order without limit of time.
The court earlier heard that on the day of the attacks Mr and Mrs Smith were out exercising their dog shortly before 9am. Johnstone, who was unknown to them, approached Mr Smith. He then punched, kicked and stamped on him. Mrs Smith was also repeatedly punched and kicked.
The couple suffered head injuries and were admitted to hospital.
Johnstone ran off and encountered Mr Kinnis on a path between fields about 9.40am, where he attacked the retired dairyman.
Another dog walker found Mr Kinnis and made a 999 call. It was not possible to identify him at that stage because of facial injuries.
Mr Kinnis died in hospital in Elgin later that day.