Sheila Caffell had recently left St Andrews Hospital in Northampton after receiving treatment for schizophrenia. Sheila had told her psychiatrist that her children were the ‘devils children’ and that one of them was going to rape and murder her. She had stated clearly that she wanted them dead. Her medication had been reduced and she had been smoking cannabis. That evening her parents, Neville and June had raised the possibility of her children being fostered which undoubtedly would have upset Sheila.
Sheila’s bed had not been slept in and the police crime scene photographs show that her body and the gun had been moved whilst the photographs were being taken but this was not mentioned to the jury in 1986. A forensic scientist testified that her body had been moved after death and it was then suggested that it was her murderer who did this.
In 1986 it was difficult for a jury to accept that such a woman would be capable of carrying out such a violent act but now in the 21st century we have a heightened awareness of the dangers of mental illness and also the violent acts which are often carried out by women.
Sheila’s bed had not been slept in and the police crime scene photographs show that her body and the gun had been moved whilst the photographs were being taken but this was not mentioned to the jury in 1986. A forensic scientist testified that her body had been moved after death and it was then suggested that it was her murderer who did this.
In 1986 it was difficult for a jury to accept that such a woman would be capable of carrying out such a violent act but now in the 21st century we have a heightened awareness of the dangers of mental illness and also the violent acts which are often carried out by women.
Contrary to popular belief it is not uncommon for mentally ill women or indeed Paranoid schizophrenics to kill their families or to commit suicide. Below are links to cases recently in the news in the UK and Europe alone. And in the USA gun crime among women is more common simply because of their licensing laws.
UK
Depressed mother, Fiona Donnison, murders her children and leaves their bodies in the boot of her car, she then slashed her wrists and walked into a police station and confessed.
Lianne Smith 43, 'Feared her children would be taken from her'
Lianne Smith 43, 'Feared her children would be taken from her'
Germany
