Judges reject secure mental hospital appeal in Elliot Guy case - Colin Welsh to serve prison term
Published: 03 February 2011
by JAMIE WELHAM
APPEAL court judges have ruled that a man jailed for killing a fellow party-goer should serve his sentence in prison and not be transferred to a secure mental hospital.
Colin Welsh, 43, argued that his paranoid schizophrenia should have been considered when he was sent to prison for stabbing Elliot Guy in the neck. Lawyers argued doctors could make sure he kept taking his medication in a secure unit.
Mr Guy, 27, died in July 2008 after the unprovoked attack at a house party in Junction Road, Tufnell Park.
He grew up in Kentish Town but was living with his girlfriend and new baby in Ealing at the time of his death.
Lord Justice Moses, Mr Justice Maddison and Judge Anthony Scott-Gall sitting together said the original trial had acted correctly.
Their ruling said: “We do not accept that public confidence in the resolution of this case will be maintained by making a hospital order, coupled with a restriction.
“We take the view that this appellant bears substantial responsibility for this most grievous of offences and that there is a risk that he will remain a source of danger, even if his condition substantially improves once he has received treatment and medication.”