David Reid stabbed Mark Johnston more than 120 times at a flat in Broughty Ferry, Dundee; he did this as he said a devil told him to kill the victim. Reid had discharged himself from the Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen two days before killing Mark Johnston. He was acquitted of murder last week and is now detained in the State Hospital at Carstairs.
A decision was made to admit Reid to hospital where two NHS Tayside staff escorted him in a taxi to Aberdeen because no psychiatric beds available that were local. Reid discharged himself shortly after admission as a consultant decided he did not meet criteria for compulsory treatment.
Prosecutors accepted that Reid was “not criminally responsible for his actions by reason of mental disorder”.
The High Court in Livingston was told Reid was covered in blood when he answered the door to police in October last year.
Reid told officers: “I feel terrible. The devil told me I had two hours to stab him.
“I got a knife from the kitchen and sat there.
“He was my only friend. I can’t believe what I’ve done. I stabbed him. What will his family think?”
Judge Lady Rae said: “I don’t prejudge things, but a man who is sufficiently ill to be accompanied by two members of staff to a psychiatric hospital clearly has a history.
“He’s allowed to leave and two days later this occurs. I’d have thought it should be investigated.”
Advocate depute Brian Robertson said: “The Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit will in due course receive a report from the NHS trust in relation to the decision made.
“My understanding of the position at present is that it is considered likely that there are criticisms about the actions taken.”
