Mylee Billingham murder trial: Father stabbed 8-year-old daughter to death after suffering 'moderate depression', court hears
William Billingham maintains he had no memory of his daughter's stabbing, Birmingham Crown Court told
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A father accused of murdering his eight-year-old daughter with a knife was suffering from “moderate” depression at the time of the attack, a defence psychiatrist has claimed.
William Billingham denies murdering Mylee Billingham two hours after they were seen together.
Psychiatrist Nuwan Galappathie, who assessed Mr Billingham at HMP Birmingham in July, gave evidence on the issue of diminished responsibility.
She told Birmingham Crown Court: “My conclusion was that he was suffering from a moderate episode of depression. At the time of the killing, in my opinion, it would have affected his ability to form a rational judgment and it would have affected his ability to exercise control. It would not have affected his ability to understand what he was doing at the time.”
Dr Galappathie said Mr Billingham had told him he was struggling to sleep in the run-up to Mylee’s death, waking up at 5am and suffering from low mood, a lack of appetite and low self-esteem.
The court heard that the 55-year-old father-of-six denied “hearing voices” and maintained that he had no memory of his daughter’s stabbing.
Listing his conclusions following his examination of Mr Billingham, Dr Galappathie said he believed the defendant’s “retrograde amnesia” was a genuine lack of memory.
The witness told the court: “In my opinion, it’s likely the severe trauma of the alleged offence – by way of killing a loved one – has probably led to his inability to mentally process events that occurred.
“At the time of the killing he would have been suffering an abnormality of mental functioning. His depression would have clouded his thoughts and judgments.”
Jurors were given a document explaining the law surrounding the partial defence of diminished responsibility, which reduces murder to manslaughter.
Under the partial defence, a defendant can be cleared of murder if they prove an abnormality of mental functioning substantially impaired their ability to understand the nature of their conduct.
Mr Billingham also denies making a threat to kill Mylee’s mother, Tracey Taundry, as she arrived to take her daughter home on the night of 20 January.
The trial continues.
Additional reporting by agencies