UK-
A HARROWING 999 call was played at Swansea Crown Court earlier this week (Dec 13) as the trial of a Thai mother, who admitted to killing her seven-year-old son earlier this year, concluded with her sentencing.
Papaipit Linse, 43, of 14 Upper Market Street, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on November 22nd after psychiatric reports confirmed she was suffering from severe mental illness at the time of the incident.
During the trial, the court heard the disturbing emergency call Linse made at 10:44am on January 10th, 2024. In the recording, Linse repeatedly told the operator: “I have killed my son. I felt totally mental, I felt like a robot, I felt totally twisted.”
CHILLING DETAILS REVEALED
The prosecution revealed that Linse had strangled her son with a leather handbag strap. She later told police that she “couldn’t check for a heartbeat” after what she had done.
When officers arrived at the three-story home, they found the boy’s body on the third floor, covered with a pillow and duvet. Despite attempts to perform CPR, it was evident he had succumbed to strangulation, with the strap leaving clear marks on his neck.
At the time of the tragedy, Linse’s husband, the child’s father, was receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital.
MENTAL ILLNESS THE EXCLUSIVE CAUSE
Psychiatric reports presented by Dr Davis, Dr Wing, and Dr Cumming concluded that Linse was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia during the incident. All three experts agreed her mental illness was the sole reason for the killing and recommended ongoing treatment.
Dr Davis, speaking for the defence, told the court: “If it wasn’t for that severe psychotic episode, the incident would not have occurred. In my opinion, she was unable to recognise the nature of what she was doing or the legality of her actions.”
The court accepted her plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
“NOT A WICKED PERSON”
In sentencing Linse to a hospital order, His Honour Judge P H Thomas addressed her mental state at the time of the tragedy, saying: “Your son was not killed by you because you are a wicked person—you are not. He died because at the time you were suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.”
He continued: “I am acutely conscious that your son has barely been mentioned by me. What happened to him was tragic.”
Judge Thomas emphasized that Linse’s responsibility was grossly affected by her illness, which rendered her incapable of comprehending her actions.
Linse, who moved to the UK from Thailand in 2017, will now receive treatment under the hospital order as recommended by psychiatric experts. Judge Thomas reserved further comment, stating that he had considered the severity of the case and the unanimous psychiatric evidence in his ruling.