Courts / Dublin / Report
State now accepts cannabis intoxication 'does not feature' in Christina Anderson case
Summary
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2023, Christina Anderson's counsel argued that her moral culpability for stabbing Gareth Kelly was zero because she was in a psychotic episode caused by bipolar‑affective disorder. The State accepted that cannabis intoxication did not feature in the case. Anderson, 41, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. She was initially charged with murder but the DPP accepted the plea after the trial began. Anderson was taken to the Central Mental Hospital in February 2020 and remains a patient. The court heard that she had been experiencing delusions of a conspiracy involving neighbours, Gardaí and politicians, and that she had been under psychiatric care since 2017. The judge will set a sentence on 20 June, with the defence seeking maximum leniency. The case remains at the manslaughter stage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: State now accepts cannabis intoxication 'does not feature' in Christina Anderson case. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 20 Other
- February 25, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2020 Incident
- February 16th, 2020 Other
- February 23rd Other
- 2023-05-22 Publication
Why: I know he was in pain, I know that because of the evidence. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Ms Justice O'Connor will impose sentence on June 20. Pat McGrath SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that the killing is at the higher end for offences of manslaughter but in sentencing the judge must consider how much Ms Anderson's culpability is reduced by her mental illness before setting a headline sentence.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Central Mental Hospital
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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