A YOUNG NURSE DIED TRAGICALLY IN HER NORBURY FLAT
A YOUNG NURSE DIED TRAGICALLY IN HER NORBURY FLAT AFTER THE
BUILDING WAS SET ABLAZE BY AN INSANE NEIGHBOUR WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS
‘BURNING EVIL SPIRITS’, AND OLD BAILEY JURY HEARD ON TUESDAY.
THE JURY WHO WAS ASKED TO RETURN A ‘SPECIAL VERDICT’ ACQUITTED
SUSAN ARNOLD, 36, OF MANSLAUGHTER, ASSAULT AND ARSON BY REASON OF
INSANITY.
ARNOLD SET FIRE TO HER BEDSIT IN LONDON ROAD, NORBURY, ON
JANUARY 10 THIS YEAR.
SHE WANTED TO DO GOD’S WORK, SAID MR TIMOTHY
CASSEL, PROSECUTING.
‘THIS IS A SAD CASE WHERE THE DEFENDANT WAS ACTING UNDER AN
INSANE DELUSION.
SHE SAID SHE WAS GOD’S BABY AND THE BLUE ANGEL OUT
TO GET RID OF EVIL FORCES’, CONTINUED COUNSEL.
TENNANT JACQUELINE GOODRUM, 24, MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE BLAZE BY
LEAPING FROM HER SECOND FLOOR FLAT ONTO A FLAT ROOF.
SHE INJURED HER
PELVIS AND ARM IN THE FALL.
BUT 28-YEAR-OLD SUSAN NAYLOR WAS NOT SO LUCKY.
THE NURSE WAS
FOUND BY FIREMEN FACE DOWN ON THE FLOOR OF HER BEDSIT.
SHE WAS
ALREADY DEAD FROM SMOKE INHALATION.
MR CASSEL TOLD THE JURY ARNOLD IS A SCHIZOPHRENIC.
‘BOTH THE
CROWN AND THE DEFENCE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO FIND HER NOT GUILTY BY
REASON OF INSANITY.
‘ AFTER THE VERDICT WAS RETURNED ON MR
JUSTICE ALLIOTT’S DIRECTION, THE JUDGE ORDERED ARNOLD TO BE SENT TO
THE SECURE UNIT OF WARLINGHAM PARK HOSPITAL, SURREY.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL MAKE A DECISION WITHIN TWO MONTHS
AS TO WHERE SHE WILL BE DETAINED.
ENDS.
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