Hospital order for Barnstaple killer

Man guilty of manslaughter

A man who stabbed another man to death will stay in hospital indefinitely after being sentenced for the killing.

Kit Kat (aka Kevin Gale), aged 54, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter by diminished responsibility of 39-year-old Lee Turner in August 2018.

Mr Gale was given a Section 37 (Mental Health Act) Hospital Order along with an indefinite Section 41 Order which prevents him from being granted leave or discharged without authority from the Secretary of State for Justice.

DCI Lee Nattrass said: "Police were contacted on the evening of Friday 3 August 2018 to reports of a man having been stabbed multiple times at the Barnstaple Retail Park on Station Road.

“Mr Turner was pronounced deceased later at hospital and a subsequent manhunt was launched to locate the offender. Kit Kat was located and arrested the next day.”

In January 2019 a Trial of Fact was held at Exeter Crown Court with the jury finding that Kit Kat had committed the act resulting in Mr Turner’s death. As Kit Kat had been unfit to stand trial for murder, the judge issued a Hospital Order.

DCI Lee Nattrass continued: "Following further psychiatric assessments Kit Kat was deemed fit to stand trial and at today’s hearing pleaded to manslaughter by diminished responsibility. This was accepted by the Crown.

"I would like to pay tribute to the family of Mr Turner for their quiet dignity throughout the case and hope that following this conclusion they can look towards the future.”