Man stabbed mother 17 times in frenzied attack in CoventryA MAN who carried out a frenzied knife attack on his mother, stabbing her 17 times after being ‘spoken to’ by the Christmas tree, has been detained in a secure psychiatric unit.
Warwick Crown Court heard that Leon Szewerniak launched his attack while he was staying with his parents at their home in Station Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry, for Christmas in 2017.
Szewerniak (48) of Bamford Avenue, London, was sentenced under the Mental Health Act to be detained at a secure psychiatric unit for an indefinite period.
And Judge Sylvia de Bertodano also imposed a restriction order, which means he can only be discharged with the consent of the Justice Secretary and will be liable to be recalled if his future behaviour given cause for concern.
Prosecutor Ben Aina QC said Szewerniak suffers from manic schizophrenia and psychosis, and lived in supported accommodation in London where his parents John and Joan visited him every two weeks.
In the intervening weeks, he stayed with them at their home in Coventry from the Friday to the Tuesday.
Asked by Judge Sylvia de Bertodano whether Szewerniak would ‘ever cease to be dangerous,’ psychiatrist Dr John Kennedy, who had prepared a report on him, replied: “I think the risks of relapse are long-term.”
Sentencing Szewerniak, who was flanked by staff from Reaside, Judge de Bertodano told him: “She suffered life-threatening injuries. We don’t know how she is now, because she doesn’t want to talk to anyone in the prosecution about this.
“You have taken responsibility for it by pleading guilty at the first opportunity, and the reason you committed this offence is your long-standing psychiatric condition.
“You are a very vulnerable individual with regards to your mental health. Not only do you suffer from schizophrenia, but also from severe psychosis.
“You also suffered a brain injury by you jumping from a railway bridge as a result of your psychosis, and that has left you with brain damage.”
“… It was your mental disorder which caused this offence. Without correct treatment, you would remain a danger to yourself and to other people.”
