Crazed killers: Trust's failings exposed
A catalogue of failures allowed two mental health patients to go on to kill a pregnant mum and an 82-year-old woman.
Today, the Mail can reveal the damning findings of independent investigations into the cases of killers Benjamin Holiday and Michael Torrie, who were both patients of Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust.
Holiday was receiving treatment for mental health problems when he stabbed 31-year-old Tina Stevenson, who was 31 weeks pregnant with twin boys.
He killed Miss Stevenson with a single stab wound to the back on January 5, 2005, as she walked down Wellsted Street, close to her Gee Street home in west Hull.
Holiday denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and detained at Rampton secure unit, Nottinghamshire.
The independent report into his case – commissioned by the region's strategic health authority (SHA), NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, and carried out by Caring Solutions – states: "The root cause contributing to the patient's continuing severe mental disorder was that of 'under treatment'.
"His situation and condition could and should have been more assertively managed."
Michael Torrie killed his 82-year-old mother, Ivy, by cutting her throat with a kitchen knife at the home they shared at The Oval, Pocklington, on September 14, 2003.
He had been a loving son until he suffered a massive breakdown.
Torrie was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital after he admitted manslaughter, also on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The report into Torrie's case, carried out by the same organisation, said: "The root cause of this homicide was the rapid reduction of medication and the way this was managed in the absence of a risk assessment."
The findings of the reports are due to be discussed at a SHA board on Tuesday, ahead of a press conference.
However, the Mail discovered the findings on the SHA website.
Moments after we contacted the health organisations involved, the papers were removed from the website.
The board will be asked at the meeting to approve the publication of the independent investigation reports.
It will also be given the action plan by Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, NHS East Riding of Yorkshire and NHS Hull, the region's primary care trusts, drawn up in response to the findings.
The action plan includes reviewing the way the health organisations share information, reviewing staffing levels, conducting an audit of out of hours services and producing information packs for patients and their carers.
11 Comments
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by Louise, Hull
Sunday, May 03 2009, 8:32PM
“Yes perhaps my wording wasn't exact... I cannot excuse this at all!! She was a nice girl with a full future ahead of her, I don't understand and can't. But then that's perhaps because I knew her!”
by reg, hull
Sunday, May 03 2009, 9:21AM
“get out of my garden else i'm coming out there with me dog and a major tranquiliser!! ha ha!!!”
by Terry, In the street
Saturday, May 02 2009, 11:26PM
“During the 1980's, many health facilities which housed people with mental health problems ,were closed down.The reason given was so that mentally ill people could live in the community and not feel excluded,whilst receiving out patient treatment for their illness.The reality was that it was simply a cost cutting exercise, and many mentally ill people simply slipped through the net.Things have not improved since then as this story sadly shows.Some people NEED to be housed in long term health facilities for their own wellbeing and for the public's safety.All too often however, measures are taken after horrific events like this when it is too late ( the phrase "a pennyworth of prevention..," springs to mind ).No doubt "lessons will be learned"..,etc.., but I don't expect to see vast improvements in safely accommodating mentally ill people in the near future.”
by Crazed Killer, Reg's Garden
Saturday, May 02 2009, 9:22PM
“Reg,
I know where you live...
Love
Crazed Killer”
by JD, Kirk Ella
Saturday, May 02 2009, 8:12PM
“Well said all who have complained about the language used by the HDM in this case. However, it's not the first time the paper has transgressed in this way and I doubt it will be the last. More importantly though, Mark I thoroughly agree with your sentiment. It's about time those paid high salaries because of the apparent responsibility their position entails, stood up to be counted and accepted that responsibility when called upon to do so. Those paid to accept responsibility must accept it rather than run for cover and let someone else take the blame. I wonder if the one in real charge this time will do the honourable thing, if he/she knows what honour is of course.”
by reg, hull
Saturday, May 02 2009, 6:00PM
“and again. hull daily mail you should be ashamed of yourselfs using the derogatory term 'crazed killers' it is offensive, stigmatising and ignorant.”
by reg, hull
Saturday, May 02 2009, 5:58PM
“crazy loone?? that's disgusting. i hope to god no one close to you ever suffers serious mental illness. because if they did they wouldn't get a lot of understanding from you now would they? i know you're mad and so you should be what has happened is disgusting and should never have happened. These men should have recieved a comprehensive service, it is required by law!! Tina and every other member of the public should have been protected from mr holiday and mr torrie, the report shows that they did not get the treatment they should have done. Mr holiday should not have had his liberty at the time he killed tina, he should have been in hospital on a section recieving treatment. Consultant Psychiatrists and community mental health workers are paid good money and are educated to deal with these people, your anger should be directed at them. They are the ones who let everyone down, they failed to protect the public from them when they were very unwell and not responsible for their actions.”
by Hannah, Hull
Saturday, May 02 2009, 4:32PM
“Louise, I think your comments are pretty disgusting. He was mentally ill, yes he claimed diminished responsibility.. because thats true! Due to his illness he wasn't fully aware of what he was doing, and although its a terrible tragedy what happened to the woman, especially with being pregnant, it was also a tragedy that he was let down by the people who should have been helping him. And I hope you never suffer from any sort of serious mental illness, because then you would have to face ignorant comments like yours and see how you like it.
Idiot.”
by Louise, Hull
Saturday, May 02 2009, 3:53PM
“I knew Tina and although gobby and stood up for what she believed in she did not deserve to die and have the right of motherhood taken away by this crazy loon that has taken diminished responsibility, not alot can be said for the father of these twins as he just went on to live his life however the thought is still there!! I am disgusted that hanging or the lethal injection are not brought back for these sorts of people and who are they to play god!! This lady had a life long history of problems and she wanted was to start again I know she was very happy to become a mum!
Manslaughter was enough of a sentence given to this PIG!”
by Reg, Hull
Saturday, May 02 2009, 3:03PM
“well said Mark. It's very sad especially when u read that mr torrie was a loving son to his mother. obviously he must have been really very unwell to do such a thing to a mother he loved. i think the sensationalist headlione 'crazed killers' is extreemly insensitive to both Mr Holiday and Mr torrie , there victims and the families of all those involved. I suppose it would be right to say the real killers are the services that let these people down and that both 'crazed killers' are victims also.”