Woman who ‘felt like a robot’ as she strangled son, 7, to death given indefinite hospital order
13 December 2024, 13:30
A woman who strangled her seven-year-old son Louis to death with a thin leather strap from a handbag has been given an indefinite hospital order.
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Papaipit Linse, 43, was given an indefinite hospital order as she was suffering from a mental illness when she strangled her son at their home in West Wales.
Louis was found dead in bed in the house on Upper Market Street in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, on January 10.
In a call to the emergency services following the incident Linse admitted killing her son, and told the call handler she had "felt like a robot" and was unable to stop herself.
Three psychiatrists who had viewed her case had agreed her mental state was the sole reason for her killing her son.
One doctor told the judge he believed she was likely suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Linse previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murder, which was accepted by the prosecution.
Addressing Linse, he said: "Your son Louis was not killed by you because you are a wicked person, he died because at the time you were suffering from a mental illness.
"Had you not been so ill at that time it never would have happened and you would continue being a good, caring, loving mother to him."
He added: "What happened to (Louis) was an unspeakable tragedy and I'm quite aware that his loss is quite unbearable for many people. I truly hope, however, that the reasoning behind the order will be understood by them."
She repeatedly told the police "I killed my son" and that she had strangled him.
Asked why she had done it, she said: "I felt totally mental this morning, I felt like a robot and couldn't control myself and my mind.
"I was completely twisted, all kind of things came up in my mind, I felt like a robot, and I did it."
Linse told the call handler she was unable to check on Louis because of what she had done.
"I did what I did, I can't go there," she said.
Caroline Rees KC, speaking for the prosecution, described Louis as a "brilliant and lovely little boy".
Ms Rees described how Linse had let the police in to the property, who rushed to Louis' room but were unable to resuscitate him.
She said: "He wasn't breathing, there was no sign of a heartbeat.
"The officer immediately started CPR and resuscitation attempts."
