Allen Timothy
Allen Timothy, the husband who claimed X Factor dancers told him to
behead his scientist partner and kill their dog has been sectioned
indefinitely.
Allen killed Samantha Ho at their home in St Neots, Cambridgeshire,
in August last year and left her head and body to be discovered
separately by police.
The 40-year-old man had been left suffering from delusions after a
serious motorcycle crash in 2004. His collapse last year was triggered
by the Reality show as he believed the dancers were 'puppets being
controlled by a puppet master', a court heard.
Allen was sectioned indefinitely at Southwark Crown Court today
after he admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished
responsibility.
Daily Mail reports that the couple, who met in 1995 at Nottingham
Trent University, were in an 'extremely loving' relationship until a
serious motorcycle accident in 2004 left Allen suffering from paranoid
schizophrenia, delusions and depression.
On August 29 last year, they were watching X Factor together when Allen attempted to cut his own throat.
He is then said to have 'turned the knife' on 39-year-old Ho, a
researcher with Optimum Patient Care, while she tried to phone police.
Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said: 'It was shortly before 11pm that Ms Ho made an emergency call to the police. It was a most harrowing and upsetting call.
'It is plain from... what she immediately reported that the
defendant had attempted taking his own life, cutting his neck. She told
the operator what he had done.
'He [then] killed her in the kitchen of her home, brutal and determined, while using more than one knife.'
The murdered woman, Samantha Ho
When officers arrived, they found Allen bare-chested and covered in
blood. He was said to be repeatedly stabbing the couple's border
collie.
Allen later told officers he thought the dancers on the television were being controlled by a puppet master.
Mr Jackson added: 'He said he felt really scared and they were speaking to him through the TV and that they were going to get him and Samantha.'
Allen thought the puppets were asking him to kill his wife, and their dog.
Mrs Justice McGowan, sentencing, said Allen presented a risk to the
public. She ordered that he be detained under section 37 of the Mental
Health Act 1983 and said he must not be released from a secure hospital
until the secretary of state deemed him not to be a risk.
Describing the incident as 'terrible', she added to Allen: 'You killed the woman that you loved and who I’m completely satisfied also loved you with a selfless commitment.
'This was a happy, loving couple, working well together and successfully until the events of 2004 and the road traffic accident.
'What happened that night was clearly a product of a severe and
chronic mental illness. This is one of the sadder cases that this court
has had to deal with.'
This is where the murder occurred
Speaking after sentencing, Ms Ho’s family said they welcomed the
result - although added that no sentence could bring her back.
Describing her as 'well-loved, well respected and a kind-hearted young lady', they added: 'She had a bright future ahead of her with lots of aspirations.
'She wanted to be a great scientist, have time to travel the world, realise her dreams and spend more time with family.
'However, on that fateful day, Samantha was tragically taken away from us. That day was a day where a part of us died.'
Her brother Derek added: 'We were all so very proud of her accomplishments in her very short life.
'She inspired those around her to live life fully, even in the
simple pleasures - she lived generously, loved deeply and lived life in
the moment. We will never forget Samantha.'
Detective Superintendent Richard Wall, from the Bedfordshire,
Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, described the case as
'tragic'.
He said: 'Nothing will bring Samantha back but I hope today’s
sentencing, and the conclusion of legal proceedings, will provide some
comfort for Samantha’s family.
'Our deepest sympathies are with them and her friends at this difficult time.'
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