A convicted murderer has won the Supreme Court trial to keep his identity undisclosed. Recently released on parole from a psychiatric hospital, the court granted him anonymity in legal proceedings.
According to BBC News, the anonymous man referred to as C, is taking a legal process of changing his name. He was convicted for killing his former girlfriend and her new companion, according to the file document on the court. Judges ordered his anonymity as necessary for his reintegration into the community.
The 40 year old man had mental health problems and was released last October from a secured psychiatric hospital. Guardian reported, the crime was described as "horrendous" as well as it has affected the victim's families with "incalculable distress".
Stephen Knafler QC, appearing for the convicted murderer also accepted that the crime he committed were "high up on the scale of horrific". However, he fought that the legal challenges with mental health patients should be kept confidential or at least the identity should be protected.
Court's deputy president, Lady Hale who ruled the anonymity said, "There is a long-standing practice that certain classes of people, principally children and mental patients, should not be named in proceedings about their care, treatment and property," Daily Mail quoted. She also explained that the psychiatric hospital detention aims to make the patient better, so that he is no longer a risk either to himself or to others.
Lady Hale also said the public had a right to know what happened in the courts, and that sensible decisions were being made. The court judgement said the Parole Board had agreed to the release of C on life licence in September and had given several conditions. Among the conditions given was that C continues to have psychiatric treatment."He is much more likely to be able to lead a successful life in the community if his identity is not generally known," the judge said.
