Man admits trying to kill Bilston shopkeeper who was stabbed 41 TIMES
A paranoid schizophrenic has admitted attempting to murder a shopkeeper by stabbing him 41 times in a ‘frenzied’ attack – almost three years after the incident.
David Dean was deemed unfit to plead to the charge due to the state of his mental health two years ago.
But this week, after being given the all-clear by two psychiatrists, the 45-year-old reappeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court and delivered his guilty plea.
The court heard how Dean leapt over the counter at News and Booze in Bilston and repeatedly stabbed 51-year-old Purshotam Lal.
He then fled, leaving his victim, who later required 43 stitches, severely injured on the floor.
Dean, currently being treated at the Reaside Hospital near Birmingham, will remain locked up indefinitely in a secure hospital under sentencing passed by Judge John Wait.
Mr Wait described how Dean’s deteriorating mental condition at the time of the attack had left him with a ‘holy disillusioned’ view on reality.
Speaking to Dean, Judge Wait said: “You came to believe that those who run the corner shop were in truth some form of hostile force troubling your mother. You take it on yourself to seek to kill Mr Lal who was simply looking after the shop that evening.”
He added: “You had fallen in such a state that you launch this awful, frenzied attack on him.”
Ms Heidi Kubik, prosecuting, played CCTV of the incident, at around 9.30pm on December 21, 2014, to the court. It showed Dean entering the shop and attracting Mr Lal’s attention before stabbing him repeatedly.
She said Mr Lal was alone in the shop when Dean, wearing a scarf around his face, walked in.
She said: “He caught Mr Lal’s attention by saying ‘alright gaffer’ before reaching over the counter to assault him and then jumping over it in order to stab him repeatedly in the head and body.”
The fact Mr Lal was wearing a thick jumper may have saved his life, added Ms Kubik. He was then taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and treated for severe injuries.
Ms Kubik added: “Today he is still suffering. He is yet to return to work.”
Less than half an hour later, Dean, previously of Wolverhampton, was spotted starting a fire on nearby waste ground. The remains of a scarf and gloves matching those worn by him were found at the scene.
He was arrested two days later after being seen acting strangely in East Park.
Detectives then found a ripped up note at his home address which, when pieced together, read: “Mum, please tell me have you been bothered by them at the shop. Just say yes or no.”
Mr Jon Roe, defending, said: “Dean is appalled by his behaviour that day. He is thankful the situation is not worse. He wants to apologise to the victim.”
At the trial two years ago, Dean, it was said, was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia triggered by an abuse of heroin, cocaine and other drugs, from an early age.
After he was deemed unfit to plead to the charge of manslaughter, a jury decided he was the attacker and found him guilty of ‘doing the act’.
Psychiatrists have since reported that his health has improved with treatment, and he was deemed fit to plea on July 12.
Judge Wait said it was vital for his safety and the safety of others he was supervised indefinitely.
Under the Section 41 order of the Mental Health Act placed on Dean, he cannot be discharged without the Secretary of State’s consent.
