Dad who killed baby boy he threw into river may never be freed from psychiatric hospital

Zak Bennett-Eko was yesterday found guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Bennett-Eko flung his son, Zakari William Bennett-Eko, into the River Irwell in Radcliffe on September 11, 2019, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The baby's lifeless body was pulled from the water having died from either hypothermia or drowning.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before it came back with a verdict, clearing the dad of murder and finding him guilty of manslaughter.

Today the 23-year-old was sentenced to a hospital order under section 41 of the 1983 Mental Health Act.

 

Zak Eko was found guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility

Before Mr Justice Fraser handed down the sentence, three psychiatrists who gave evidence said Bennett-Eko "may never be released" from the secure hospital he has been at since his son's death.

The hospital order has no time limit, meaning he will be in a secure unit such time a the Home Secretary and a board of psychiatrists feel he can be moved.

If he is ever released, Bennett-Eko will be under lifelong supervision.

A victim impact statement penned by Emma Blood, Bennett-Eko's former partner and the mother of baby Zakari, was read out in court.

Ms Blood told of the heartbroken family's "little man", taken from them in horrific circumstances.

 

Mum Emma Blood with her son Zakari William Bennett-Eko

"He was dearly loved," she said.

"He was my first baby. He was bright, bubbly, and very mischievous. He soon figure out he could do cheeky things to get a giggle out of me.

"His little laugh was infections. I was so proud watching his personality develop. I would tell him that his mummy loved him every day. I can't quite come to terms with the fact I can no longer do that in person.

"I can only hope that over time, the man responsible will understand the unimaginable pain he has caused."

The manslaughter verdict was met with an audible reaction in court from the public gallery, where family members have been sitting as the trial has continued.

Mr Justice Fraser called those who returned the decision a "model jury", having "carefully listened" to the evidence throughout.

Bennett-Eko is currently residing at Ashworth secure hospital and was not present for the trial.

He was also not in the courtroom today as the sentence was handed down.

Before Zakari's death, the court heard Bennett-Eko's mental health had started to seriously deteriorate after he stopped taking his medication - something "common" for paranoid schizophrenics to do, according to psychiatrists who gave evidence.

Bennett-Eko said he started hallucinating, seeing his baby's "legs expanding".

He had also started suffering delusions, telling his girlfriend that his mum was Beyonce when, in fact, his own mother is dead.

Bennett-Eko had presented at A&E six times in the weeks leading up to the crime, seeking help for his mental health.

He was never admitted to hospital as a result of any of those visits, the court heard.

His "superficially calm" exterior meant doctors did not recognise his "seriously disturbed" mental state, despite telling staff that he wanted to be sectioned, the jury was told.

Shortly after 4pm on September 11, Bennett-Eko left the family home on River Street, Radcliffe, with his son in a pushchair.

He walked to the riverside and while doing so, passed a man in a blue Ford Focus being driven by a man who nodded at him.

This nod "specifically indicated" that Zakari was the devil, and that he needed to be drowned, claimed Bennett-Eko.

On the day of his son's death, Bennett-Eko was seen "swinging his son from side to side" before throwing him into the river.

Bennett-Eko was then seen walking into the nearby Lock Keeper pub 'as if nothing had happened' before telling other customers what he had done, the jurors heard.

When police arrived to arrest him, the defendant was sitting "calmly" at a table and was forthcoming with his name and address.

While in custody, he asked for his dead mother to be contacted, and called an officer "Uncle Steve".

The baby's mum was heartbroken when she found out what happened to him .

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