Family of Dad Fatally Stabbed by Psychiatric Patient Express Outrage as Killer is Granted Leave from Secure Unit
The family of Lewis Stone, a retired butcher who tragically lost his life when he was stabbed by psychiatric patient David Fleet, have spoken out against the decision to allow Fleet out on visits from the secure unit where he is detained. The shocking incident occurred in 2019 while Stone was on holiday in Borth, mid-Wales, when Fleet, who suffers from schizophrenia, attacked him while he was walking his dog.
According to reports, Fleet had been released from a secure psychiatric unit a mere 10 days before the fatal attack on Stone. The family was devastated to learn that Fleet would now be granted overnight leave from the same secure unit, sparking fears that his release could soon become permanent. Vicki Lindsay, Stone’s stepdaughter, expressed her frustration, stating that the decision seemed to disregard their family’s suffering and demanded transparency from the NHS regarding Fleet’s care and release.
On the morning of February 28, 2019, Stone left his holiday home to walk his dog, only to encounter Fleet near the River Leri, where the tragic stabbing took place. Despite Fleet’s subsequent detention at a secure psychiatric unit following his guilty plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, the family remains haunted by questions surrounding Fleet’s premature release prior to the attack.
Vicki Lindsay lamented the lack of information provided to the family regarding the circumstances leading to Fleet’s early release, adding that the killer’s newfound freedom has reopened the wounds of their loss. She criticised the decision-makers for seemingly disregarding the impact on the victims’ family, describing their treatment as callous and disrespectful.
Sharon Daniel, director of nursing, quality and patient experience at Hywel Dda University Health Board, declined to release internal reports related to Fleet’s case, citing patient confidentiality. However, the family’s adviser, Radd Seiger, along with the Stone family, is demanding accountability and transparency from the health board to understand the failures that led to the tragic incident.
The Ministry of Justice, responsible for decisions regarding indefinite detention, expressed sympathy for the Stone family and emphasised rigorous risk assessments and safeguards prior to granting community access to detained individuals. The call for transparency in mental health-related cases echoes similar demands following a reversal by NHS England to publish reports on other high-profile cases.
In a plea for justice and closure, the Stone family is resolute in their quest for accountability and a thorough examination of the events that led to their beloved Lewis Stone’s untimely death at the hands of David Fleet. As they navigate the grief and trauma of their loss, they remain committed to challenging the systems that failed to protect their loved one and ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.