Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Train defecator was 'would-be murderer' - Update

A would-be murderer who defecated on trains across the South East to "purge" himself of inner voices urging him to stab women and children has been ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure mental hospital.

Over several months Bonney Eberendu, 36, ran up a £50,000 damages bill as teams of "specialist cleaners" were forced to withdraw rolling stock from service and spend hours cleaning up after him.

He was eventually identified from CCTV footage and his picture circulated to transport staff across the area.

Eberendu, of no fixed address, who has a previous conviction for blackmail involving threats to cut off his victim's fingers, later told police he had spent years hearing "voices in his head".

Peter Zinner, prosecuting, said the defendant went on to explain that on no fewer than five occasions "he had observed women with the intention of doing a frenzied stabbing".

He added: "But he didn't carry out an act of murder because by defecating and smearing his excrement he purged himself of the urge to kill."

Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Elwen described his offences as "revolting" and said although his schizophrenia is responding well to medication he remains a risk to the public.

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