Cerys killer ‘could have suffered drug delirium’
AN ex-convict could have been suffering from drug-induced “excited delirium” when he attacked a young woman and killed her, an inquest has heard.
Matthew Williams, 34, was under the influence of amphetamines when he used broken pieces of pottery to cut Cerys Yemm’s face, neck and body at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel in Argoed, Blackwood, in the early hours of November 6, 2014.
Miss Yemm, 22, who suffered at least 89 separate injuries and died at the scene, had gone with Williams to the hotel where he had been staying since his release from prison two weeks previously.
Gwent Coroner’s Court heard Williams, who spent much of his life in and out of prison and suffered from drug-induced paranoid schizophrenia, was released without medication and used controlled substances heavily in the days leading up to the incident.
Police arrived at the hotel at around 1.40am and used a Taser on Williams after he failed to respond to their request for him to move away from Miss Yemm’s body, the inquest heard.
Williams was then arrested and placed in leg straps and handcuffs, and was Tasered again three more times in the space of 30 seconds after he started trying to get up.
Shortly afterwards, stopped breathing and died.
Dr Derick Todd, a consultant cardiologist whose statement was read to the jury, said Williams suffered a cardiac arrest between three and 10 minutes after the last use of the Taser.
He said: “In my opinion, the available evidence supports the fact that the Taser use did not induce the cardiac arrest.”
He added that the stress Williams would have been under while being restrained and the amphetamine in his blood would have contributed to his collapse. Williams
Describing the condition “excited delirium”, forensic toxicologist John Slaughter said it could be caused by the use of stimulant drugs and there were a number of symptoms including insensitivity to pain, no response to verbal commands and growling or making animal noises.
Sufferers may also have an attraction to glass or reflective images and exhibit unusual strength – particularly when restrained, he said.
Mr Slaughter said Williams was “likely to have been in a state of excited delirium caused by the heavy use of amphetamines”.
Home Office pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter, who carried out the postmortem examination on Williams, said he had been unable to determine a precise cause of death but he had instead given a narrative cause of death. He said this was a “sudden unexpected death following a struggle against restraint (including discharge of a Taser) in a man with a history of schizophrenia who had taken amphetamine and cannabis”.
He added: “The circumstances to me provide an explanation for death having occurred at that time.”
Dr Leadbeatter said an external examination of Williams’ body showed he had suffered a number of injuries including small bruises to his eyelid and cuts.
The inquest heard injuries on the side of his nose and to his chest were consistent with the deployment of Taser barbs, and bruises on his wrists were in keeping with the use of handcuffs.
Mr Leadbeatter said there were also “sharp force” injuries on Williams’ right hand and left forearm, which were “not inconsistent” with “self infliction”.
The hearing continues.