Man who stabbed cyclist to death in 'entirely random' attack sent to Broadmoor
Jason Voong, who suffers from simple schizophrenia, stabbed Tom Rogers 20 times in June last year and will be held at Broadmoor Hospital indefinitely
A man who stabbed a cyclist to death in what has been described as an 'entirely random' attack has been sent to Broadmoor indefinitely.
Jason Voong, 29, stabbed 60-year-old Tom Rogers 20 times in a motiveless attack on a cycle path near Swindon railway station in June last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard that five weeks earlier, Voong had attacked 24-year-old Leanne James with a snooker cue on the same path.
Voong never denied the attacks but charges against him of murder and attempted murder were dropped due to his mental state, found guilty instead of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court heard that the defendant suffers from simple schizophrenia and could be held at Broadmoor Hospital indefinitely.
"The prognosis in this case is very poor and he will require hospital treatment for years to come," Dr Samrat Sengupta, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at Broadmoor, said in court..
"It would be very dangerous to release this man into the community without treatment.
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"The type of schizophrenia that Mr Voong suffers from is so rare and uncommon it is difficult to predict.
"It is possible that he will remain in hospital indefinitely."
Judge Neil Ford QC, the Recorder of Bristol, told Voong: "Tom Rogers was cycling home from work and you attacked him in an extraordinary brutal way, fatally stabbing him to the chest and neck 19 or 20 times.
"There is no evidence you specifically targeted your victims, you didn't know either of them. There is no motive for these attacks and you took no steps to cover your tracks.
"You are unable to explain to why you acted the way you did. You are a man who is entirely devoid of conscience, remorse and empathy."
The judge added that Voong would not be released from Broadmoor until he is considered no danger to the public.
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
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