Homicide, inquiries and scapegoating

Homicide is in the news and community care is being blamed, a view not justified by the facts. Much has been written about the homicides of Johnathan Zito and Georgina Robinson and there has rightly been considerable public and profes sional concern. There have been other reports on the murder ofJohnathan Newbyin October 1993 and William Bennett in July 1994. Yet another case is currently the subject of an inquiry and again the press is expressing indignation and horror. The anxiety and concern are natural but the reactions are not justified. This has encouraged me to bring together the figures for homicidal patients admitted to the Special Hospitals since 1972 (Table 1), and the total national figures for homicide in these same years. The term homicide includes those committed to a Special Hospital for both murder and manslaughter, since many may have been regarded as having shown dimin ished responsibility as a result of their mental disorder.