Advertisement

Former soldier murdered dog walker, 83, because 'a voice in his head told him to hurt someone'

A former soldier with a grudge against dog walkers murdered a complete stranger after a voice in his head told him to kill someone, a court has heard.

Alexander Palmer allegedly attacked pensioner Peter Wrighton from behind with a knife as he was walking his two dogs, a mongrel called Gemma and a Scarteen Harrier named Dylan, before dragging his body under brambles.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that 24-year-old Palmer, who served in the British Army until November 2015, admitted being in the area – woodland known as The Heath near East Harling in Norfolk – at the time of the attack on August 5 last year but denied killing Mr Wrighton.

<em>Voice – Alexander Palmer claimed he had a voice in his head who told him to kill or harm people (Pictures: SWNS)</em>
Voice – Alexander Palmer claimed he had a voice in his head who told him to kill or harm people (Pictures: SWNS)

According to the prosecution, Palmer told medical professionals a voice in his head called “Little Alex” told him to harm or kill people and would tell him to stab the neck or throat of strangers.

Dog walkers allegedly appeared to be a particular “bugbear” of his, the court heard.

Father-of-two Mr Wrighton, whose body was found by officers at 11.20am, had suffered multiple severe stab wounds to the neck and throat as a result of the alleged attack.

MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO

The jury heard that police were initially unaware of Palmer until a psychologist who treated him at RAF Marham read press reports and said she thought he could be someone worth speaking to.

While serving in the army, he had been injured in an assault – in which he was the victim – which appeared to trigger problems requiring mental health professionals.

<em>Pensioner – Mr Knighton was walking his dogs when he was allegedly murdered by Palmer</em>
Pensioner – Mr Knighton was walking his dogs when he was allegedly murdered by Palmer

Opening the case against Palmer, prosecutor Stephen Spence said: “On one occasion he (Palmer) told staff, ‘when I eventually hurt someone, I know that I will plan out the method in my head, go to the desired place where I wish the scene to be set and then I will carry out the act of hurting someone… it could be anyone that it happens to.

“Just random, but I will have already thought about what I am going to do’.

“You might think that is a pretty good account of what happened to Peter Wrighton on that day.”

<em>Animal – the court heard police initially thought Mr Wrighton had been attacked by an animal</em>
Animal – the court heard police initially thought Mr Wrighton had been attacked by an animal

Mr Spence said when Mr Wrighton’s body was first found, police assumed he had been killed by an animal because of the injuries to his throat.

He said: “Sometimes as Alex, sometimes as Little Alex, the voice at times urged him to kill people.

“He appears to have some ill-feeling or a grudge towards dog walkers. There were a number of references to attacks to the throat.

“Particularly of note was his desire to kill strangers, dog walkers seemed to be a particular bugbear of his.”

Palmer, of Bawdeswell, Norfolk, denies a singular charge of murder. The trial continues.