JAMIESON: OAP DETAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH UNIT INDEFINITE FOR STRANGLING PARTNER

A frail 83 year-old man who strangled his partner after refusing to see a doctor about his mental illness was locked up indefinitely today (WEDS).

Stanley Jamieson had suffered from depression for 20 years before he killed Indra Tharmananthan at their home in south London.

He told police the 70 year-old victim had broken her neck falling down the stairs but a postmortem revealed she had been strangled, most likely with the flex of a steam iron.

Jamieson was charged with murder but was found unfit to stand trial by psychiatrists.

Judge Richard Hone ordered him to be detained without limit of time under the Mental Health Act 1983.

The judge said: ‘It is a terribly sad case with tragic consequences. I am quite satisfied that an appropriate order is to make a hospital order.

‘There will be a restriction on your release without limit of time. Prison would be the worst possible place for you to be.

‘What you need is treatment in the hospital and supervision so your condition is not allowed to get out of control as it did.’

Jamieson, who was half English and half Sri Lankan, had first been referred to a psychiatrist in 1983 after his 19 year-old daughter committed suicide.

He was detained at a psychiatric unit for two days in 1984 and was given further treatment over the years until 1988.

Jamieson did not see a doctor again until 2007 when he complained of depression and insomnia and was given antidepressants.

His condition gradually got worse and he would panic and threaten to kill himself if anything went wrong with even minor tasks.

Jamieson had met Indra Tharmananthan after she came to the UK from Sri Lanka in the 1990s and she moved into his home at 13 Cromer Road, South Norwood, south London.

According to witnesses, he behaved as though Indra Tharmananthan was subservient to him and referred to her as his tenant or housekeeper.

‘Their relationship was not a loving affectionate one, although there is evidence they were fond of each other,’ said Miss Nelson.

‘He was the dominant, bossy and controlling one, he would shout at her, barking orders even in public.

‘But she was intensely loyal and as his behaviour deteriorated she stayed with him, joining with him in his reclusiveness and hiding the extent of his psychiatric difficulties.’

The couple’s relationship grew more strained as Ms Tharmananthan began to do everything for him.

‘The deceased explained away his behaviour saying he would soon get back to normal,’ said Miss Nelson.

‘Not only had the defendant shown reluctance to take medication but also reluctant to get medical help. He was scared of being sectioned, saying he would rather kill himself.’

In April the victim appeared ‘scared’ and said Jamieson ‘was getting worse and refused to see a doctor,’ said Miss Nelson.

The victim was last heard from on the evening of Sunday, April 11, but later attempts by friends to make contact got no reply.

Jamieson told one caller that she was ‘OK’ but could not come to the door because he was not dressed.

On the evening of April 13 the police were called after there was again no answer.

Ms Tharmananthan’s body was found wedged between the armchair and the living room door.

She had injuries consistent with a heavy fall including a fractured neck and rib and bruising to her left arm.

But a pathologist concluded the cause of death was asphyxia and compression of the neck.

DNA from Jamieson was found on the cord of a steam iron.

Following his arrest he was transferred to a psychiatric hospital and told doctors that Ms Tharmananthan had fallen off the stairs.

Two months later he was said to have accepted killing her but refused to give any details.

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