HOSPITAL CLEARED AFTER PATIENT MURDERED LOVER WHILE ON WEEKEND PASS
A sheriff cleared a hospital of blame after releasing Alexander Stone, a mental patient, on a weekend pass during which he murdered his lover, Diane Hopkins, while under the influence of drugs.
The incident occurred in February 1999, when Stone, father of four, strangled Ms Hopkins in her bedroom after smoking cannabis and drinking beer.
Stone later telephoned the hospital to confirm her death.
He had previously expressed fears he might kill her, but the hospital was found to have taken no systemic precautions to prevent the murder.
The sheriff William Muirhead acknowledged that Ms Hopkins had confided in her twin sister about her fears but had not informed the hospital, and dismissed claims of serious abuse, stating "It did not appear to me that Diane Hopkins was the victim of a sustained and serious course of domestic abuse." Stone pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in August of the previous year.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
t Diane Hopkins was the victim of a sustained and serious course of domestic abuse." Stone pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in August of the previous year.
Life or indeterminate sentence
life
The sheriff William Muirhead acknowledged that Ms Hopkins had confided in her twin sister about her fears but had not informed the hospital, and dismissed claims of serious abuse, stating "It did not appear to me that Diane Hopkins was the victim of a sustained and serious course of domestic abuse." Stone pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in August of the previous year
Prison sentence
life
The sheriff William Muirhead acknowledged that Ms Hopkins had confided in her twin sister about her fears but had not informed the hospital, and dismissed claims of serious abuse, stating "It did not appear to me that Diane Hopkins was the victim of a sustained and serious course of domestic abuse." Stone pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in August of the previous year
