Man who knifed neighbour had personality disorder but was not mentally ill

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A jury trying the case of a man who stabbed his neighbour to death was given the task of deciding whether his diagnosed personality disorder gave him a defence to murder. Two forensic psychiatrists agreed Arslan was not mentally ill but were divided on whether his personality disorder should lessen the offence to one of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. “His self image was of a proud and a hard man, a very tough man who had done military service.” The witness added: “ is an angry man who in quite a controlled way is acting out his rage by taking someone else’s life.” But Dr Sally Foster, who conducted a psychiatric examination for the defence, said Arslan’s personality disorder diagnosis might provide a defence to murder. Dr Foster said Arslan’s personality disorder amounted to an abnormality of mental function, but said it was for the jury to decide whether that was sufficient to lessen the offence from murder to manslaughter.