Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of murder, violence, mental illness and criminal responsibility. Listener discretion is advised.

The prosecution has presented its case.

Now the trial turns towards a more difficult question.

Not whether Peter Sutcliffe carried out the attacks—but how the law should judge the state of his mind when he committed them.

Four psychiatrists examined Sutcliffe. All four concluded that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and the Crown was initially prepared to accept guilty pleas to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

But Mr Justice Boreham insisted that the psychiatric evidence must be tested before a jury.

What does diminished responsibility actually mean? Can someone experience serious mental illness whilst remaining capable of planning and concealment? And what happens when unanimous medical opinion depends upon the truth of the defendant’s own account?

In this episode, we examine the evidence of Dr Hugo Milne, Dr Malcolm MacCulloch and Dr Terence Kay. Although the psychiatrists agreed upon the diagnosis, each was forced to confront the same fundamental question.

Had Peter Sutcliffe acted under a genuine religious delusion—or had he constructed a story capable of deceiving every doctor who examined him?

Because a diagnosis can explain a person’s mental condition.

But it cannot determine a verdict.

This is an episode about mental illness.

About responsibility.

About the limits of expert evidence.

And about the moment Peter Sutcliffe enters the witness box.

🎙️ Hidden Chronicles explores the moments where history, crime and human psychology collide.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible and other major podcast platforms.

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