27 Jan 2010, Posted by Cat in News, 23 Comments. Tagged dad, life

in court

The court case was today. Our family did not attend. We are OK with the outcome.

[excerpt from the Sydney Morning Herald]

Delusional man not guilty of attack

MARGARET SCHEIKOWSKI

Moments after a distraught elderly artist rang for help, his delusional neighbour smashed his way into the painter’s Sydney studio and savagely attacked him.

When police arrived at the north shore premises of Cameron Sparks, they saw Peter Grayson kneeling on top of the 78-year-old victim, who was lying in a pool of blood.

In the NSW District Court on Wednesday, Judge Penelope Hock found Grayson, 41, not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Sparks with intent to murder him, on the grounds of mental illness.

Although she found he attacked Mr Sparks, she accepted psychiatric evidence that Grayson was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and did not know that what he was doing was wrong.

About 11.15am (AEST) on June 6 last year, another neighbour saw Grayson, wearing only pyjama pants, standing in the middle of Balls Head Road, Waverton, yelling and screaming.

The judge said that as the neighbour went to ring police, he heard the sound of breaking glass coming from the studio attached to Mr Sparks’ home.

At 11.30am, Mr Sparks – who had locked himself in his studio – rang triple-zero saying Grayson was in an agitated state trying to smash his way through the door.

Grayson then forced his way in and began to attack Mr Sparks with what appeared to be a piece of wood, the judge said.

When police arrived, they saw glass strewn across the floor and Grayson kneeling on top of the victim, both men covered in blood.

After being told to get off the artist, Grayson "stood up and stomped on the victim", the judge said.

Mr Sparks, who suffered significant head injuries, was in hospital until August 18, when he was discharged to a rehabilitation complex.

"According to the evidence, Mr Sparks has now regained limited mobility but has no recollection of the assault," Judge Hock said.

She noted that his treating doctor said Mr Sparks had been doused in diesel fuel.

After the attack, police went to the neighbouring house – where Grayson’s parents lived.

They found furniture and other items strewn across most rooms and a note saying "Dose is not enough … spiritual practices … I find the vibe of living in Sydney horrible".

The judge said Grayson had a history of paranoid schizophrenia and had been admitted to hospital a number of times since 2004.

Hours after the attack, Grayson told a psychiatrist he was hearing voices telling him to "kill people".

The psychiatrist said he was hallucinating and was deluded, believing his neighbour to be "evil".

In his opinion, Grayson appeared to have relapsed in the previous week after not taking his medication.

Judge Hock ordered that Grayson be detained in custody until released by "due process of law".

© 2010 AAP

link