Wasn't Louise on meds? They might not have mixed well with alcohol. MOO
Yes, she was reportedly taking anti-depressants, although you 'can' drink on many of them, there is an interaction and it would likely have caused her to feel more drowsy, drunk and possibly sick / headachey. I also think she was smoking weed while drinking, and they interact too, making you more drunk and possibly sick.
14:23KEY EVENT
Shane Mays punched Louise Smith repeatedly, court hears
Shane Mays says a fight broke out after the argument, during which he was hit with a stick and responded by punching Louise Smith to the floor. He then leaned over the 16-year-old and continued to punch her, the court hears.
She picked up a big stick and hit me on the side with it [Mays points to the left of his ribs]. It hurt. I grabbed it off her her and threw it on the floor and then I punched her.
I punched her face. I was angry for what she did the night before and just then. The first punch she was standing, the second time she went down.
When she was on the ground the punching continued. I was bending over. I did not know how many times [he punched her]. I lost control of myself.
Louise Smith murder trial updates as Shane Mays gives evidence
I think he slipped up by saying "I was angry for what she did the night before" - what did she do that made him so angry he beat her to death?
I can only offer wild speculation, but I think it was S who was looking at *advertiser censored* on her phone that night, I think he made a move on her while she was drunk / drowsy and I think she threatened to tell CJ what was happening.
The following day, he must have lured her to the Thicket, was it to discuss and 'sort out' whatever had happened the night before? Was he trying to persuade her not to tell CJ or anyone else what had happened? Did she say that she was going to tell and in a panic and rage he beat her? I don't believe she hit him with a stick out of nowhere, if she did indeed hit him with a stick, it was likely an attempt to defend herself :-(
So it sounds to me like CJ was possibly a controlling, 'mother' type figure for him. She provided him with a place to live and food, she gave him an allowance, she let him use her phone. It sounds like he is very beholden to her.
I know many people have posted about how unusual this seems for a man of his age. I just wanted to report that I actually know a few men like this, one being my brother. I don't think it is
exceptionally unusual for some disenfranchised young men, with low intelligence and employability, low skills, financially unstable / vulnerable, possible substance issues, possible mental health issues, certain intellectual disabilities to find themselves living like S did. My brother doesn't have a phone, access to internet, his own bank account / card etc. He is unemployed and living with a partner who he is completely dependant upon.
Accessing benefits these days often requires you to be able to access and use the internet, and prior to the pandemic to regularly attend job centre meetings, or attend an assesment to determine if you are unable to work due to illness / disability (and then you have to provide a lot of evidence). If you fail to attend a meeting or do something required you get 'sanctioned' and lose your benefits. I think for someone like S this whole process would be too difficult and demanding. I think that's why he doesn't get his own benefits and just has an allowance from CJ.