A MAN who attacked a colleague in Hereford with a hammer and stabbed another man to death in Gloucester has been given a hospital order.
Liam Hopson, 35 and previously of Barton Street in Gloucester, was due to stand trial for the murder of 51-year-old Mohammed Nadeem.
Hopson had also been charged with one count of section 18 wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to an incident where a work colleague was assaulted with a hammer in Hereford on April 28 last year.
However, at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, March 3, Judge Mrs Justice Cutts, ruled that, following mental health assessments, Hopson was unfit to stand trial or enter a plea.
On Monday, March 6, there was a trial to determine whether Hopson had committed the act of killing Mr Nadeem on July 1.
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Both Hopson and Mr Nadeem were living in a multi-occupancy address in Barton Street at the time of the incident.
The jury found that Hopson, who now resides at a secure psychiatric hospital, had committed both acts.
On March 7 he was given a Section 37 (Mental Health Act) Hospital Order along with a Section 41 restriction order.
The restriction means that, in order to protect the public from serious harm, any decision as to discharge Hopson is made by the Secretary of State.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher, from the Major Crime Investigation Unit, said: "My thoughts remain with the relatives of Mr Nadeem following this tragic and upsetting incident.
"The outcome of this case means that Hopson will remain in a high-security psychiatric hospital receiving the appropriate support which he requires, while no longer being a threat to the wider public."
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