Laboratory technician Robin Pask, 34, who stabbed Dr Elizabeth Howe to death within hours of arriving at the York University summer school as a student has now been sent to Ashworth secure mental hospital in Merseyside.

Pask, a married father of three of Catherine Street East, Horwich, admitted the manslaughter of Dr Howe on the grounds of diminished responsibility in July 1992.

A murder trial collapsed the following year after psychiatrists said Pask was suffering from depression and was unable to stand trial.

Stephen Williamson, QC, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday that Pask hacked Dr Howe to death only hours after she arrived to teach at the Open University summer school. Pask was later arrested wandering around the university grounds dressed in a skirt and swimming costume belonging to Dr Howe.

Mr Williamson told the court that in view of reports from psychiatrists, the prosecution was now prepared to accept Pask's plea of guilty to manslaughter.

Mrs Justice Smith told Pask - who was allowed to stay out of court while details of the case were heard, and appeared only for sentence - she was satisfied he suffered from a psycho-pathic personality disorder, compounded by a depressive illness.

It led him to decide to kill himself, but for reasons not yet understood he turned his killing intentions to Dr Howe.

The judge was satisfied Pask would not be released from hospital for a long time, "if ever".

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