The transgender woman who killed her husband with a samurai sword has been ordered to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.
Joanna Rowland-Stuart, 71, was charged with the murder of her husband, 70-year-old Andrew Rowland-Stuart, but found to be unfit to plead.
Instead, a trial of the act took place at Lewes Crown Court this week when a jury of six men and six women were asked to decide whether the defendant committed the act.
They returned their verdict – that the defendant unlawfully killed her husband – this afternoon (Thursday 24 July) after deliberating for 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Police were called to the couple’s flat, in Wiltshire House, Lavender Street, Brighton, on Monday 27 last year after an almost naked and blood-covered Joanna Rowland-Stuart knocked on neighbours’ doors shouting for help.
Charlotte Newell, prosecuting, read statements from neighbours who said that the pair seemed like a kind an affectionate couple.
Detective Constable Gilly Sadler told the jury that she had read thousands of messages between the couple, most of which were mundane and domestic in nature, and formed the same impression.
A post-mortem examination concluded that Andrew Rowland-Stuart, known to his friends as Andy, had died from stab wounds.
The murder investigation was known as Operation Putney and Sussex Police said: “Joanna Rowland-Stuart was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and remanded in custody.”
A psychiatric assessment found that Joanna Rowland-Stuart was not fit to plead, a decision accepted by the court on Monday (21 July).
Judge Christine Laing, the honorary recorder of Brighton and Hove, ordered that there should be a trial of the act.
When the jury returned its verdict today that the defendant did commit the act, Judge Laing made an indefinite hospital order under section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Andrew and we want to thank everyone who has assisted us in this complex investigation.”
Andrew Rowland-Stuart’s family said in a statement: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved with this case over the past year.”
They extended their thanks “to Detective Constable Anna Stacey for her care and communication with the family while we were in England and back home in New Zealand”.
The jury were told that Andrew Rowland-Stuart was part of a 4×4 group – a community of off-roading enthusiasts who share information and plan trips to explore green lanes in Sussex. His friends in the group included Jason Harwood.
Andrew Rowland-Stuart’s family also thanked “Andrew’s 4×4 family, especially Jason who helped us immensely while we were there”.
Man murders another man , in the mental hospital where he spend the rest of his life , they won’t entertain his delusional ideas, in fact he will be so dosed up with meds and etc he won’t know what day of the week it is
No, as a patient clearly suffering from a mental disorder they will treated with humanity and medication required will be prescribed to treat the disorder.
It’s unfortunate that there was no legal trial however it is good to know this person will never walk the streets again
The face of insanity
Welcome to fraggle rock,
I’ve seen some real ignorant and vindictive drivel aimed at this poor unfortunate couple. I’m not going to get involved in that.
However,
I will comment on the Trial of Facts and the subsequent Hospital Order.
A Trial of Facts based on not fit to plead is one step up from a diminished responsibility plea. It means the person is so seriously mentally ill and lacking in capacity that they would not be able to participate in the court proceedings.
The Section 37/41 (Section 41 is the restriction order) Is by no means a soft option. The patient (for that is what they are) Is usually detained in medium secure conditions. Or possibly worse, dependant on the level of risk that they pose to either themselves or the wider risk to others. If they were considered to be a “Grave and Immediate risk” to themselves or others they could be placed in high security conditions I.e. the Special Hospitals, either Broadmoor or Rampton.
At all stages of confinement they will be subject to regular assessment of risk and prospects of treatment and rehabilitation. All decisions that the Responsible Medical Officer (Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist makes are not the final decision. That is down to Home Secretary. I.e. downgrading the level of risk and say a move to less secure conditions.
If and when a patient is deemed well enough to be discharged back into the community, they will have a mental health review tribunal. Unlike civil sections, this is chaired by a circuit Judge. If release is recommended, it is called a conditional discharge (LIable to hospital recall at any time) The patient is usually heavily monitored and probably would not be placed back into the community in terms of independent living but in say a group home. When an absolute discharge from the section is recommended by their community based psychiatrist it once again usually by a review tribunal.
I just thought I’d try and put to bed a lot of the uninformed comments. I doubt if this someone who to use the term “Plumbum oscillans” is swinging the lead (Malingering)
A well-written comment, Rob. Psychiatric health is a complicated field of study, especially when a criminal element is included as well. Very easy to go down a route of ignorant stereotyping and ridicule.
Based on the facts presented and the additional information provided by one of my learned fellow writers in this paper (which is, evidently, pitched at readers leaning towards the intellectual elite end of the IQ spectrum), I think this is the right outcome.
In a nutshell, the killer is not right in the head.
Given the Supreme Court’s recent decision that there are only two genders ,I assume this person will be sent to a male institution.
I suspect they will be at a mixed gender institution, they typically try to keep the limited single sex spaces for when it is needed specifically.
“A mentally ill man kills another man while dressed in a frock”!