Woman has 'zero moral culpability' for fatal stabbing

A WOMAN who stabbed a stranger to death during a psychotic episode bears “zero” moral culpability for the killing due to her mental condition, her barrister said.

- EOIN REYNOLDS

The Central Criminal Court also heard yesterday the State accepts that Christina Anderson was undergoing a psychotic episode at the time.

She pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year.

Gareth Kelly, 38, had never met her and was trying to start his car February 25, 2020 outside her home when she approached him and fatally stabbed him five times.

During the trial, the jury heard a central issue was whether Anderson’s actions were driven by mental illness or by cannabis intoxication.

Defence Counsel Michael O’Higgins said while his client’s actions were horrendous, she was suffering delusions brought on by bipolar-affective disorder.