Knifeman with paranoid schizophrenia ‘refused’ to attend assessment days before stabbing spree, court told

Zephaniah McLeod got taxi home to pick up second blade during 90-minute attack

Chiara Giordano
Tuesday 16 November 2021 16:40 GMT
<p>Court told Zephaniah McLeod (pictured in a court artist sketch) missed a key mental health appointment days before he went on a stabbing spree in Birmingham</p>

Court told Zephaniah McLeod (pictured in a court artist sketch) missed a key mental health appointment days before he went on a stabbing spree in Birmingham

A diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who knifed a university worker to death in a violent stabbing spree in Birmingham missed a psychiatric assessment appointment four days before he struck, a court heard.

The families of the victims of Zephaniah McLeod, 28, who also slashed or stabbed seven other people in September 2020, heard how he had been out of contact with health services since being released from prison that April.

Opening the case at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, Karim Khalil QC said mental health services eventually made contact with Mr McLeod and he had been due a “face-to-face” assessment with a psychiatrist but “refused” to attend.

Instead, during the home visit on 3 September, a new date was set – for three weeks after his deadly assault.

Before he could be assessed, Mr McLeod launched a violent series of attacks in the city centre in the early hours of 6 September 2020.

Mr Khalil said: “He armed himself with two large knives and aimed at parts of the body, namely the head, neck and chest where the most severe injuries would be likely to be caused.

“We suggest the fact some victims sustained physical injuries that weren’t as serious was purely by chance, rather than by design.”

Mr McLeod appeared at Birmingham Crown Court for the start of a two-day sentencing hearing.

He previously admitted the manslaughter of Jacob Billington, a talented musician and Sheffield Hallam University graduate, after stabbing the 23-year-old to death.

Mr McLeod had also admitted four counts of attempted murder, including one attack which left a victim partially paralysed, and three separate offences of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mr Khalil QC, prosecuting, said McLeod was “well-known to mental health services with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia”.

Mr Justice Edward Pepperall was also told his condition had been “present” since at least 2012.

“He has never before received sustained, effective treatment due to a number of identified reasons including his own lifestyle,” added Mr Khalil.

The court heard how on his release from prison in April 2020, mental health services struggled to trace him, with a psychiatrist giving evidence they were “not informed of his whereabouts”.

It was only when they received a referral from Mr McLeod’s GP that mental health workers were able to see him.

“He was last spoken to on the phone by a mental health nurse on 3 September 2020,” Mr Khalil told the court.

“This was just four days before his arrest for these offences.”

Mr McLeod, of Selly Oak, Birmingham, carried out the attacks in the space of 90 minutes – getting a cab home to pick up another knife, before returning to the city centre, part-way through his spree.

Mr Billington was fatally stabbed in the neck and shoulder while returning to his hotel after celebrating a friend’s birthday.

The 23-year-old, from Crosby, Merseyside, was attacked alongside close friend Michael Callaghan.

Mr Callaghan, 24, was left gravely injured, suffering a single stab wound to the neck, leaving him partially paralysed down his left side and causing massive blood loss which triggered a stroke.

He is now on a long road to recovery and appeared in court walking unaided to hear the case opening.

The families of both Mr Billington and Mr Callaghan were present on the first day of the sentencing and are expected to make victim personal statements to court.

Members of Mr McLeod’s family were also present.

The hearing continues.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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