Double killer's strolls in the city (From Oxford Mail)

Double killer's strolls in the city

6:20am Tuesday 17th November 2009

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A DOUBLE killer who took the lives of a mother and her teenage son is being freed from detention to take unsupervised trips around Oxford.

Gregory Davis, 30, was given an indefinite sentence after he stabbed 48-year-old Dorothy Rogers with a kitchen knife 31 times.

Davis also disemboweled her 19-year-old son Michael Rogers during the “psychotic episode” in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, six years ago.

Davis admitted two counts of manslaughter but claimed diminished responsibility in 2003.

During sentencing at Luton Crown Court, Mr Justice Richard Aikens detained Davis indefinitely under the Mental Health Act after hearing he suffered a ‘psychotic episode’.

Davis has been serving his sentence at Littlemore Hospital, in Oxford, but since October he has been allowed to spend four hours a week on unsupervised leave.

Last night, police confirmed the killer had been let loose on the trips, but stressed officers were monitoring the situation.

A close friend of the victim’s family said she was ‘horrified’ to learn Davis has permission to take the twice-weekly two-hour unsupervised trips.

The family friend said: “I am appalled. I bet the people of Oxford are delighted to know they have a maniac capable of this in their midst.

“He was given two life sentences under the Mental Health Act and now these idiot psychiatrists are saying he’s fine.

“If he is no longer insane then he should be serving his sentence in a prison cell, not allowed out to go on day trips round Oxford. This is no punishment.

“This man has proved himself, despite his youth and frail appearance, capable of incredible violence and brutality and it is very frightening.

“I’m glad I don’t live in Oxford because you don’t know who you would be standing next to in a queue at the shops.

“It is absolutely disgraceful and I am horrified.”

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health (OBMH) trust, which runs Littlemore Hospital, said all patients are subject to rigorous risk assessments before being granted unsupervised trips.

The arrangements are also being monitored by police under Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa).

Police spokesman Rebecca Webber confirmed Davis’s trips are managed by Mappa, which monitors serious violent and sex offenders who serve their sentence in the community or are released from custody.

She added: “The decision to allow Mr Davis unsupervised visits into the community is one taken by the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust, who are responsible for his care, and Mappa were informed of their decision.

“We will continue to monitor the situation as per the Mappa guidelines.”

A spokesman for OBMH said: “OBMH follows a clear protocol when considering leave arrangements and when monitoring the wellbeing of all of our patients.

“Only once a strict system of reports and agreements are in place will patients on a hospital order with restrictions have visits to the community.

“All aspects of the care of such individuals are agreed with the Ministry of Justice.”

Earlier this month, convicted violent offender Saju Miah, 25, was on the run for 48 hours after absconding from Littlemore Hospital while on an escorted walk.

OBMH figures show 847 of its patients absconded or failed to return while on unsupervised leave between May 2005 and April 2009.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk

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