Accused Insane—witnesses (Press, 24 February 1983)

On 24 February 1983, in Palmerston North, two psychiatrists testified in the trial of Lawrence John Moana Clark, a 25-year-old man accused of murder, claiming that he was insane at the time of the crime. Professor Reginald Medlicott and Dr Sidney Pugmire presented their findings to a High Court jury, asserting that Clark had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and lived much of his life in a state of delusion. Professor Medlicott, a consultant psychiatrist associated with Lake Alice and Porirua hospitals, stated that Clark was incapable of living safely in the community and that his condition required long-term hospitalisation. He suggested that Clark was unlikely to be released from care in the foreseeable future. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charged mutilation murder of Jack Robert Scales, a 60-year-old retired council groundsman, which occurred in a hotel toilet on 5 November 1982. The psychiatrists described Clark’s mental state as severely disordered, with Professor Medlicott explaining that he could not comprehend the moral implications of his actions during the incident. Medlicott indicated that the behaviour exhibited by Clark was not a mere fit of rage but rather a manifestation of deeply troubled and ritualistic conduct. He elaborated on Clark's long-standing issues, detailing how since his early teenage years, the defendant had experienced hallucinations involving spirit entities that he believed influenced his actions. Clark's background was further explored by Professor Medlicott, who noted that he had never attained full independent functioning due to his mental illness. His personal development was marked as "grossly abnormal," linked to his schizophrenia, which included disturbing hallucinations and violent thoughts. The professor also pointed out that Clark had exhibited a particular fixation on eyeball removal, recalling an incident several months prior where Clark attempted to gouge out a young woman's eye during a confrontation. Overall, the trial is ongoing, with a focus on examining the psychological state of the accused and the implications of his mental health issues on the events surrounding the murder. The testimonies of the psychiatrists aim to provide insight into Clark’s mindset and behaviour, potentially influencing the jury’s understanding of his culpability in the crime.

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