A paranoid schizophrenic who knifed to death a detective in Birmingham had not been taking his medication for "months or even years" prior to the killing, a court heard.
Glaister Earl Butler - who denies murder but has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility - was being cared for in the community when he stabbed Detective Constable Michael Swindells, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Timothy Raggatt QC told a jury of eight women and four men that they would have to decide whether or not Butler's "underlying" mental illness had produced an abnormality of mind which had driven him to kill.
The court heard that Det Con Swindells died on Friday May 21 last year after Butler, 49, plunged a knife into his heart on a canal towpath beneath Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction.
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The 70mph speed limit should be raised to 80mph at certain times on some stretches of motorway including the M42 in the Birmingham area, according to the AA.
The higher level could be introduced on stretches of motorway where there are variable speed signs, such as the M25 around London and the M42.
The AA said the 80mph limit would need to be vigorously enforced but road safety groups expressed opposition to the plan.
Should motorway speed limits be raised to 80mph? Click here to tell us what you think.
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It was a simple recipe. Helen Dolisznyj brewed up a selection of herbs in an attempt to ward off the flies buzzing around her horse.
From the kitchen of her home in Penkridge, Staffordshire, the dressage rider was keen to concoct a herbal remedy which would soothe her horses and repel insects during the vital stages of competing.
Her mixture not only kept the flies away but led Ms Dolisznyj into a rather unusual business venture.
More on this story plus - a full page of rural matters.
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A majority of Birmingham's Labour MPs have given their full backing to Tony Blair and denounced critics calling for the Prime Minister to resign.
Mr Blair's historic election victory has been marred from the beginning by calls for him to quit long before the end of the "full third term" he has pledged to serve.
Frank Dobson, the former Health Secretary, and Robin Cook, the former Foreign Secretary who left the Cabinet over Iraq, have both urged him to stand down.
And yesterday they were joined by Birmingham MPs Clare Short (Lab Ladywood), another former member of Tony Blair's cabinet, and Lynne Jones (Lab Selly Oak).
Should Tony Blair stand down? Click here to send us your opinion
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A #6 million pledge by Birmingham City Council's Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition to meet the "people's priorities" will concentrate on improving law and order, the environment and libraries.
Cabinet members approved a spending package drawn up in response to community wishes.
More than #1 million will be used to improve the street scene and #500,000 to recruit special constables and park rangers.
More on all these stories in Tuesday's Birmingham Post
