Nbadan
10-11-2006, 01:09 AM
Soldier killed after psychotic reaction to cannabis
(Filed: 09/10/2006)
A soldier who killed the father of a life-long friend in a frenzied attack after suffering a psychotic reaction to home grown cannabis has been jailed for 10 years.
Paratrooper Laurie Draper, 31, bludgeoned 53-year-old schoolteacher Paul Butterworth with a pair of garden shears after smoking the drug at his victim's home on March 7 this year.
Draper was jailed at St Alban's Crown Court today after admitting manslaughter on the grounds that his mental state had been affected by Mr Butterworth's home grown, high strength drug.
The court heard that the Iraq War veteran, originally from Leicester but based at the Colchester Garrison was suffering from a cannabis-induced psychotic mental state when he smashed the three foot tree loppers into Mr Butterworth's head and body.
Jailing Draper, a lance corporal with more than eight years "exemplary" service, Judge Findlay Baker QC told him: "Your conduct became at first strange, then alarming, then delusional.
"Resisting attempts to calm you down, you attacked Paul Butterworth."
Draper, the judge added, also tried to attack Mr Butterworth's son Ashley when he tried to drag his now dead father's body away from the vicious onslaught.
Ashley was forced to flee to save his own life.
The judge added: "He did what he could to protect his father, no-one could have expected him to do more.
"Some of the blows landed on him and fearing for his life he desisted, leaving you to beat the brains out of his unfortunate father and eventually to drag his body, mutilated and barely recognisable to the living room sofa.
"This was an appalling attack of extreme and persistent violence. And I have no doubt it would not have happened if you had not consumed cannabis.
"Anyone who unlawfully takes a dangerous mind-altering controlled drug and who then finds that his mind is altered in unexpected and undesired ways must take responsibility for his subsequent actions."
Mr Butterworth, who would have celebrated his 54th birthday this week was described in court as a laid back man who loved animals and children and who smoked his home grown cannabis to relax.
In a statement read to the court Ashley Butterworth said telling his two children about their grandfather's death was "the hardest thing he had ever had to do."
Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/09/ucannabis.xml)
Weed unfairly gets another bad rap.
(Filed: 09/10/2006)
A soldier who killed the father of a life-long friend in a frenzied attack after suffering a psychotic reaction to home grown cannabis has been jailed for 10 years.
Paratrooper Laurie Draper, 31, bludgeoned 53-year-old schoolteacher Paul Butterworth with a pair of garden shears after smoking the drug at his victim's home on March 7 this year.
Draper was jailed at St Alban's Crown Court today after admitting manslaughter on the grounds that his mental state had been affected by Mr Butterworth's home grown, high strength drug.
The court heard that the Iraq War veteran, originally from Leicester but based at the Colchester Garrison was suffering from a cannabis-induced psychotic mental state when he smashed the three foot tree loppers into Mr Butterworth's head and body.
Jailing Draper, a lance corporal with more than eight years "exemplary" service, Judge Findlay Baker QC told him: "Your conduct became at first strange, then alarming, then delusional.
"Resisting attempts to calm you down, you attacked Paul Butterworth."
Draper, the judge added, also tried to attack Mr Butterworth's son Ashley when he tried to drag his now dead father's body away from the vicious onslaught.
Ashley was forced to flee to save his own life.
The judge added: "He did what he could to protect his father, no-one could have expected him to do more.
"Some of the blows landed on him and fearing for his life he desisted, leaving you to beat the brains out of his unfortunate father and eventually to drag his body, mutilated and barely recognisable to the living room sofa.
"This was an appalling attack of extreme and persistent violence. And I have no doubt it would not have happened if you had not consumed cannabis.
"Anyone who unlawfully takes a dangerous mind-altering controlled drug and who then finds that his mind is altered in unexpected and undesired ways must take responsibility for his subsequent actions."
Mr Butterworth, who would have celebrated his 54th birthday this week was described in court as a laid back man who loved animals and children and who smoked his home grown cannabis to relax.
In a statement read to the court Ashley Butterworth said telling his two children about their grandfather's death was "the hardest thing he had ever had to do."
Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/09/ucannabis.xml)
Weed unfairly gets another bad rap.