Writer ‘slaughtered’ (Press, 25 July 1987)
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Summary: Writer ‘slaughtered’ (Press, 25 July 1987)
On 25 July 1987, the Old Bailey in London was the scene of a harrowing court case involving a New Zealander named Robert Budge, who admitted to the manslaughter of British crime writer Edward Silver, aged 36. Prosecutor Nigel Sweeney presented evidence that Silver was brutally stabbed 14 times by Budge, who was 29 at the time and worked as a civil engineer. The incident took a chilling turn when it was revealed that Silver had activated his tape recorder to document the final moments of his life, during which he screamed for help as Budge attacked him. Disturbingly, Budge was heard shouting, "I'm evil" while he persisted with the assault. Budge's mental health was brought into question during the trial, with assessments identifying him as suffering from schizophrenia. This condition was a significant factor in the court's proceedings, ultimately leading the judge to order that Budge be detained indefinitely at Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility. The ruling was based on evidence of diminished responsibility, which acknowledged Budge's unstable mental state at the time of the crime. Through the proceedings, the complexities surrounding the case highlighted issues relating to mental health and public safety.
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