Palace intruder admits later murder attempt

Press, 9 December 1988, Page 8

Palace intruder admits later murder attempt

NZPA-PA London A mental patient who climbed over the wall of Buckingham Palace in a vain attempt to see Queen Elizabeth tried to strangle a man just weeks afterwards.

An Old Bailey Court heard yesterday that Gordon Edward Wells, aged 44, was captured by police in the grounds of the palace on January 6 this year.

He protested then that he was trying to see “my sister,” the Queen.

He was taken back to Friern Barnet Mental Hospital, where he was a voluntary patient. On February 28 he attacked a fellow patient at the hospital, the Court heard.

Mr Stephen Hockman,

prosecuting, said Andrew Wallis was asleep in the same ward as Wells.

Wells attempted to kill him, first by strangulation then by suffocation with a pillow. “Luckily for Mr Wallis the defendant was seen and interrupted by a male nurse,” said Mr Hockman.

Mr Wallis was near to death and unconscious. He was breathing with difficulty and was only revived when a doctor administered oxygen, the Court heard. The Recorder of London, Sir James Miskin, Q.C., sent Wells to Broadmoor prison without limit of time after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

“He is a continuing menace to the public,” said the Judge.