21/10/2015

Woman Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity For Murder Of Man And Child

A 36-year-old woman has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of a 47-year-old and a four-year-old child in Notting Hill in February this year.

Shelley Christopher, of Daley Thompson House, Colville Square, has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after she was determined to have been insane at the time of the deaths.

The Old Bailey heard how Christopher had taken a one-year-old girl to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, on Thursday, 26 February where the child was found to have suffered puncture wounds to the chest. Hospital staff contacted police with concerns for the welfare of other occupants at her home address.

On Friday, 27 February officers from Kensington and Chelsea Borough attended an address in Colville Square. After forcing entry to the address, officers found the bodies of a man, 47-year-old Richard Brown and a four-year-old girl.

On 28 February, Christopher was arrested on suspicion of murder and subsequently charged on 2 March with the murder of Richard Brown, the murder of a four-year-old child and the attempted murder of an one-year-old girl.

Post-mortem examinations found that both deceased had suffered a number of stab wounds to the chest.

Shelley Christopher pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder by reason of insanity at the Old Bailey.

(MH/CD)

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