A court order imposed following a fatal attack in Brentford may mean a man remaining in a secure mental hospital forever.
Following a disposal hearing today (Tuesday, 6 June) at the Old Bailey, Norris Henry, 38 (10.09.84) of Brook Road South, Hounslow was detained under s37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and a s41 Restriction Order imposed.
This order is without limit of time and may mean he will remain in hospital, either forever, or if he ever gets better, he may face a murder and attempted murder trial.
On Thursday 13 April, at the same court, Henry was determined responsible for the murder of Ali Abucar Ali, 20, and the attempted murder of a woman in her 80s.
The trial was a trial of the facts due to the mental health of Henry.
He has not been found guilty of any criminal offence, as he was unfit to plead, but a jury found that he did the ‘act’.
On the evening of 12 November 2021, Henry was walking along Albany Road, Brentford, when he brandished a knife and stabbed a woman in her 80s, who received medical treatment in hospital and survived the attack. He then walked further along the road where he came across Ali Abucar Ali, 20, and stabbed him. Ali sadly died as a result of his injuries. A large scale police operation was undertaken and officers located Henry wandering the streets in the hours after the attacks. He was subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder.
After his arrest, psychiatrists determined that Henry was suffering from treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia and was not fit to make a plea or to stand trial as a result of his mental illness. He therefore faced a trial of the facts where the jury found that Henry committed the acts of stabbing both victims.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, from Specialist Crime, said: “This is a really sad case where the unprovoked and completely random knife attacks destroyed the lives of two families. Mr Ali’s family will feel his loss every day for the rest of their lives. The other victim endured a traumatic experience which she and her family continue to struggle with. We thank the surviving victim and the families of those involved for their patience throughout this investigation and court case and those people who helped both people on the night of the attacks. Their courage and resilience has been an inspiration.”
