Tom Dunn, instructed by the CPS, secures conviction for attempted murder against absconded Trevor Gibbons Unit secure inpatient following a 6 day trial at Maidstone Crow

The allegation was brought against Ray Chirisa and dated back to October 2024 when he was a secure patient at the Trevor Gibbons Unit hospital in Kent. He was at the time of the incident subject to a hospital order with a s. 41 restriction but had been approved by the MOJ for unescorted day release. Under the terms of his day release he was permitted to travel from the hospital into Maidstone Town Centre, wtth a requirement to be back at the Unit by 5:15 pm. The investigation showed that whilst in Maidstone, Mr Chirisa went to a hardware store and bought a kitchen knife. He then took a taxi to Gillingham from where he walked to Chatham. The hospital reported him missing at about 7:30 pm.

At around 8pm, Mr Chirisa came across the victim, Alex Reid. They were strangers to each other. Mr Chirisa asked Mr Reid whether he knew of anyone who could provide him with cannabis. Almost immediately thereafter, Mr Chirisa took out the knife he had bought a few hours earlier and embarked on a sustained and frenzied attack on Mr Reid, stabbing at his upper body whilst Mr Reid was the on the floor. Miraculously, and with Mr Chirisa in hot pursuit, Mr Reid managed to escape and sought sanctuary by throwing himself under some partially open delivery shutters at a nearby Iceland store.

Mr Chirisa then ran off, ditching the knife he had used in a refuse bin. He was arrested nearby and interviewed the following day. In interview he claimed not to have any memory of the incident saying he had blacked out. His police record revealed he had conducted a similar random, knife point attack against two members of the public almost 16 years ago to the day.

The case involved complicated considerations as to the extent to which evidence of Mr Chirisa’s mental health conditions could form part of the evidence absent any expert raising the defence of insanity. The case also involved complicated trial in absence arguments which resulted in the trial proceeding largely in Mr Chirisa’s absence.

Please see local news report: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/psychiatric-patient-calmly-stabbed-stranger-in-random-and-331175/