Sutcliffe 'a classic schizophrenic’

Press, 15 May 1981, Page 8

Sutcliffe 'a classic schizophrenic’

NZPA London The Yorkshire Ripper. Petei Sutcliffe, had the classic signs of paranoid schizophrenia. a psychiatrist told an Old Bailey jury yesterday. Dr Hugo Milne, consultant forensic psychiatrist, said Sutcliffe had been a paranoid schizophrenic- from the age of 19 or. 20, Giving evidence about Sutcliffe’s state of mind on the seventh , aay of the trial, Dr Milne said Sutcliffe had been ill from the time he said he heard, “voices” from a cross over a grave at a cemetery. ■ ' / •/ ■' “That is. a classical description of a primary schizophrenic experience, the magical quality and feeling that something miraculous had happened.” During 11 interviews with Dr Milne.- Sutcliffe was said to have “livened up.” when describing the cemetery experience It was mystical and magical, something he . had never experienced before. . ■' A/

Dr Milne said that in most of the earlier interviews Sutcliffe had been “flat and controlled- ana had no warmth or emotion.” Dr Milne, a consultant forensic psychiatrist foi 20 years who has examined 200 killers foi Crown and defence, described the “signs and symptoms” of Sutcliffe’s illness They included delusions of grandeur, ana a preoccupation with prostitutes to the extent of delusion. Instances of this were his use of phrases about prostitutes being the “sciim of the

earth” . and “responsible for all sorts of problems.” The jury has been asked to decide whether Sutcliffe, aged 34, a truck driver, has duped doctors into believing he was a paranoid schizophrenic to avoid a murder conviction.

He pleads not guilty to the murder of 13 women but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He pleads guilty to seven attempted murder charges. Mr James Chadwin Q.C., defending, asked Dr Milne if he thought Sutcliffe was dangerous. He replied: “Not dangerous and extremely dangerous.”

Dr Milne said Sutcliffe had told him: “I got to the stage where I might have gone into a town whilst people were shopping and attacked any woman. I knew I could do nothing to stop myself carrying on killing. I did not want to kill anyone at all: I just had to get rid of all the prostitutes.” Dr Milne said, “It seemed that he thought his actions were’ being controlled by others, and he. has passively responded.” >

SutOiffe had said: “It was like 1 was living' in someone else’s shoes, doing everyone a service.”

Earlier, it was suggested Sutcliffe might have tried to copy the schizophrenic illness from which his wife, Sonia, suffered in 1972. Dr Milne said: “On the balance of probability it is unlikely he could . have modelled himself on his. wife.”