GUILTY UK - Mylee Billingham, 8, murdered, West Midlands, 20 Jan 2018

  • #101
From today.
_______________

Adjourning the case until Wednesday, Judge Paul Farrer QC told the jury panel: "I am afraid I have further frustration to heap upon you. Mr Billingham, you will see, is not in the dock.

"He is physically in the building today but there are still legitimate concerns as to whether he is fit to carry on with the case.

I am afraid I have further frustration to heap upon you. Mr Billingham, you will see, is not in the dock.

– JUDGE PAUL FARRER QC
"You will understand that this is a very serious allegation and before we carry on he needs to be further assessed.

"The consequence is that we are not able to continue today."

Mylee Billingham murder trial adjourned for second successive day
 
  • #102
Thanks for the updates Legally. I am slightly puzzled as to why the case has to be halted.
Wasn't there a case last year - Kayleigh ? ( cant remember surname ) where the accused decided not to be present at all during the trial and it all carried on without him.
He was at court each day but in the holding cells and only went into the court when he was sentenced.
 
  • #103
Thanks for the updates Legally. I am slightly puzzled as to why the case has to be halted.
Wasn't there a case last year - Kayleigh ? ( cant remember surname ) where the accused decided not to be present at all during the trial and it all carried on without him.
He was at court each day but in the holding cells and only went into the court when he was sentenced.
Yeah, I'm not sure why they've halted proceedings. If WB is wanting to testify but is unfit to, maybe that could be a reason. But I'm just guessing.
 
  • #104
Well, the court record shows that they are due to sit today - let's see what happens.
I would assume they are still with Prosecution evidence after only 3 days hearings.
In which case, I can only guess that the reason they have to wait for WB to be present, is because he plans to give testimony in his defence and therefore he would need to be in court to hear the prosecution evidence against him.

( Again, if I remember rightly, in the other case I quoted - Kayleigh - the accused did not present any defence testimony, therefore it was probably acceptable for him not to be in court ).
 
  • #105
The Crown Court

at Birmingham

Daily List for Wednesday 26 September 2018 at The Crown Court Birmingham



Court 4
- sitting at 10:30 AM


HIS HONOUR JUDGE P FARRER QC


Trial (Part Heard)

T20187607
BILLINGHAM William P

20WS0052818
 
  • #106
  • #107
  • #108
Just seen these updates from the feed, which seems to be back on


Prosecution closes case
Following a break of two days because Billingham has been too unwell to appear in court we have resumed the trial.

Judge Paul Farrer QC told the jury that the defendant has bandages on both arms.

“You must not speculate what lies behind that,” he said.

The prosecution has now closed its case.

Mylee Billingham: Updates as Dad on trial accused of murder
 
  • #109
Billingham not giving evidence
David Mason QC said Billingham would not be giving evidence.

He said and that he would be calling a psychiatrist to deal with the issue of diminished responsibility.

Judge Farrer has now given the jury a definition of diminished responsibility which is described as a “partial defence”.


Mylee Billingham: Updates as Dad on trial accused of murder
 
  • #110
Psychiatrist says dad had 'mild depression'
Psychiatrist Dr Nuwan Galappathie is now giving evidence.

He said he had been involved in the publishing of an article ‘detecting memory malingering.’

He said he saw Billingham at Birmingham prison on July 6 and was aware he had been charged with murdering his eight year old daughter and threatening to kill her mother.

“In terms of his mental state at the time of the killing he was suffering from a mild episode of depression,” he said.

“In my opinion it would have affected his ability to form a rational judgement and would have affected his ability to exercise control.”


Mylee Billingham: Updates as Dad on trial accused of murder
 
  • #111
Well that was quick. I do hope the Jury come back with the right decision and not a diminished responsibility excuse.
 
  • #112
Mild depression. Is that for real?
Jmo of course
 
  • #113
  • #114
13:22
Dad denied using drugs in past
Dr Galappathie said Billingham denied using any illicit drugs in the past and that he suffered difficulties breathing and used an inhaler.

The defendant told him he had been to see his GP just before Christmas about anxiety but had not been under the care of any mental health services.

He had a phone call with his GP about dyspepsia but thought it could be due to stress as he was moving home and having issues at work.

Billingham also visited his GP in November 2017 with “anxiety and stress” and said that his breathing difficulties had become exacerbated.


13:30
'I don't remember'
Asked about the offences, Billingham said: “I don’t remember about the day or night.”

He said he had remembered picking his daughter up from school, ordering some Chinese takeaway the day before and staying at his elder daughters’ home.

Billingham denied abusing any drugs and said the alcohol he had had no effect on him.

The next thing he remembered was waking up at the Queen Elizabeth.

In the period before he had been feeling “down” because of work. His sleep and appetite were poor.

Asked what he enjoyed in life, he said “being with the kids. He enjoyed swimming and going out to the cinema.”

His self-esteem was “lower than normal” and he felt better when out with his daughters.


13:36
Was 'worried about his children'
Billingham told the psychiatrist he was worried about his children.

“It started to concern me. I would come home angry sometimes. I was worried about changes,” the dad had said.

He said coming up to Christmas Miss Taundry had started a new relationship with a woman but had no issues with that.

He felt anxious in crowds and preferred his own company.

He described Mylee as “fantastic. She was my best friend. We would watch TV and play games.”

The defendant “denied any thoughts about self harm or suicide.”


13:39
Was not on medication
Billingham asked about the charges against him and had said: “I still find them unbelievable. I still have problems processing it. I saw her funeral on TV which made me realise.”

Describing his mental state, the psychiatrist said Billingham had been suffering from worsening depressive symptoms. He said he found it understandable because of his recent life experiences, including the death of his parents and losing his job.

There were also issues over access to his children.

Bilingham, he said, had not been taking any medication for his depression.


13:43
Memory loss was 'genuine'
Dr Galappathie said he believed that the defendant’s memory loss about events of on the day of the killing was a genuine one and was a result of the “severe trauma.”

In some cases it can be short term but in others it can be or a longer period.

“In my opinion diminished responsibility can be considered by the court,” he said.

“At the time of the killing he was suffering from an abnormality of mental function caused by a moderate depressive episode. It’s likely his depression would have clouded his thoughts.”

His depressive condition is likely to have cause him to attack Miss Taundry with a knife, the psychiatrist said.


13:47
GP records had 'no mention of depression'
Under cross examination Dr Galappathie said he was aware there were other partial defences to murder. “I was asked to comment on loss of control as well,” he said.

It was put to the psychiatrist by Mr Khalil, for the prosecution, that loss of control could not arise in this case and he replied he could not comment.

The psychiatrist said he was aware that Dr Philip Joseph, another psychiatrist, had a different opinion.

The jury hear that Billingahm was never prescribed any medication relating to depression or anxiety related matters before the killing or after he was later discharged from hospital.

There was no indication on his GP records that he was suffering from depression.

The trial has now been adjourned until after lunch.

Mylee Billingham: Updates as Dad on trial accused of murder
 
  • #115
14:34
Trial resumes after lunch
Resuming after lunch the psychiatrist said Billingham would have understood that he had armed himself with a large kitchen knife, hidden it, dropped it and held it to Miss Taundry’s neck and threatened to kill her.

He would have also understood that he dragged Mylee back into the bungalow and slammed the door.

“His depression would not have affected that,” he said.


14:38
Billingham could be 'violent and controlling'
Dr Galappathie said he has asked the defendant about relationships with three women.

One of the women had described a relationship when Billingham in which he could be “violent and controlling” towards her.

The defendant said once there was a “domestic that had got out of hand”.

The psychiatrist said he had not asked for details and there was a similar incident involving Miss Taundry.


14:54
Photo of Billingham in knickers
Asked about what appeared to be the developing relationship between his former partner and another woman, the psychiatrist said: “There does appear to be some difficulty in coming to terms with events.”

Dr Gallapthie was also asked about a photo Billingham had sent to Miss Taundry of him wearing a pair of Miss Taundry’s knickers with an attached message.

He said the defendant had not told him about this.

The defendant told Dr Joseph that taking the picture was a “joke” and she treated it as such.


15:16
Messages to ex 'crude and direct'
Dr Galappathie has been shown text messages between Billingham and Miss Taundry.

It was put to him that Billingham had been “provoking” Miss Taundry and that the messages were “crude and direct”.

The psychiatrists said: “I think it is clear there were difficulties in the relationship.”

“He is not dealing well with the relationship between Miss Taundry and Lindsey?” asked the prosecutor

He replies: “That is what is indicated by these messages.”

The doctor agreed that Billingham was sending material that was “designed to disrupt” her new relationship.


15:19
Billingham was 'acting normally'
The psychiatrist said Billingham had lost his memory of the whole day.

Asked whether that was “wholly unusual” he replied: “It is unusual but I have come across patients before who have had this kind of experience.”

His partner and elder daughter had described him acting normally, said Mr Khalil.

”There are individuals who mask their symptoms,” Dr Galappathie replied.

Mr Khalil said there was CCTV of Billingham at a Cost Cutters acting “entirely normal” buying some beer and chatting with the person at the till.

He said people with depression do things, spend time with their family and experience enjoyment.


15:20
'Signs of jealousy'
“The symptoms he outlined to me appeared genuine. My impression was that he was depressed and moderately depressed,” said Dr Galappathie.

The psychiatrist agreed that Billingham was showing signs of jealousy about Mylee’s mother’s relationship.

He was asked whether Billingham had particular difficulty with the end of relationships.

“if the information is accurate I agree with that,” he said. “I had the impression he had a good and loving relationship with his daughter.”
16:16


Re-examination underway
In re-examination the psychiatrist said Billingham’s antecedent history, which included being fined for theft and assault, was still consistent with someone suffering from diminished responsibility.

People suffering from depression can still go about their work or enjoy spending time with their family, he said, adding Billingham said there still things he enjoyed.

“An individual can be behaving normally up to the point where they experience loss of control and rational judgement,” Dr Galappathie said.


16:18
'Kids come first'
Dr Philip Joseph, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said he had interviewed Billingham at Birmingham prison on September 12, had seen his medical records and viewed CCTV footage.

The defendant told him he had suffered no abusive experiences during his childhood and was a hard working man who was “out-going and not aggressive.”

He said he was “not the jealous type or possessive and controlling. Kids always come first.”

The defendant also said he liked a drink but never had a drink problem.

Mylee Billingham: Updates as Dad on trial accused of murder
 
  • #116
16:38
Denied drinking too much
The psychiatrist said the defendant told him about his relationship with previous women and had separated from Miss Taundry seven years previously.

He said he had convictions for “domestics” involving Mandy and Julie.

Billingham denied drinking too much alcohol during the relationship with Mandy or standing outside a children’s school saying Mandy was a “slag.”

Any court proceedings were about child support, he told Dr Joseph.

He also claimed he was beaten up by the family of the new boyfriend of one of his previous partners.

Billingham said he met Miss Taundry when she was 19 and that their relationship was “up and down.”


16:40
Claimed could not remember killing
Billingham also told Dr Joseph that that on the Friday, Mylee’s mum had given him £30 because he was not working and that he went to the Ogley Working Mens Club.

He remembered going to bed in his elder daughter’s home.

His next memory was waking up at the QE and had no memory of the events in between.

Dr Joseph went through events on the 20th with Billingham who said he had no memory of saying “this is not happening” or stabbing Mylee.

He claimed he could not remember what he said during the police interviews.

He told the psychiatrist: “I have never been the jealous type. and was not that annoyed about the Internet. I did not kill her (Mylee) to spare her living in this world.”


16:41
'He is controlling, possessive and jealous'
Dr Joseph said the defendant had not become distressed at any stage and had not tried to harm himself in prison.


He had not shown of mental illness during the interview with him, he said.

“His main area of difficulty is his relationship with women. He is controlling, possessive and jealous.”

It was likely he became strongly jealous when Miss Taundry started a new relationship.

He believed he was going to have less contact with his children.

“He was not in my opinion suffering from a recognised medical condition.”


Underlined - isn't that convenient.
 
  • #117
Thanks for all the updates Legally.

Sitting on my hands whilst reading that line below !!!

“He was not in my opinion suffering from a recognised medical condition.”
 
  • #118
Snippet more on Dr Joseph's evidence.
________________

Dr Joseph said there was no evidence Billingham suffered from any mental illness and that the defence of diminished responsibility did not apply.

He added did not believe the defendant's claims of amnesia in relation to the events surrounding Mylee's death.

Dr Joseph, who interviewed Mr Billingham on September 12 at HMP Birmingham described Billingham as 'controlling and jealous' while in relationships with women.

He said: 'Mr Billingham did not show features of depression or anxiety in his interview with me.

'He showed no features of mental illness in my interview with him or any sign of cognitive impairment.

Father of Mylee Billingham may have 'lost control due to depression' when 'he murdered daughter' | Daily Mail Online
 
  • #119
  • #120
Daily List for Thursday 27 September 2018 at The Crown Court Birmingham




Court 4


HIS HONOUR JUDGE P FARRER QC



NOT BEFORE 10:30 AM

Trial (Part Heard)

T20187607
BILLINGHAM William P

20WS0052818
 

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