Frederico Canuzo, 18, sentenced to a hospital order for the manslaughter of his mother, Chintzia McIntyre, in Chapelford.
He was mentally unfit to plead for months, but in January, he admitted to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility due to his mental state. This Tuesday, he appeared in court where Judge Brian Cummings sentenced him to a hospital order at Liverpool Crown Court.
A restriction was added to the order, meaning the Ministry of Justice must agree to any discharge or transfer, as well as if he can leave the facility.
Police received a call at 9:40 AM on August 29, reporting an incident on Phoenix Place. Upon arrival, police and paramedics, including an air ambulance, found a woman seriously hurt outside. The 48-year-old woman, later identified as Chintzia McIntyre, Canuzo’s mother, died at the scene despite their efforts.
Canuzo, then 17, was arrested and charged with murder. Police determined she had sustained many head injuries, with a claw hammer causing at least 29 blows. The incident was reported by her husband, Stephen McIntyre.
McIntyre, Canuzo’s stepfather, witnessed the attack through his video doorbell while working away, which sent him a notification. The video showed Canuzo attacking his mother and then running away.
Police located Canuzo on a train headed to London Euston after being notified. British Transport Police and London police were notified and arrested him upon his arrival in London before taking him back to Warrington.
The next day, Canuzo, then 18 and living on Phoenix Place, was charged with murder. His trial, initially set for January 27, was delayed for health reasons. Appearing in court via video, Canuzo pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility, which the Crown accepted based on medical evidence.
The court learned that Canuzo suffered from a severe mental illness, identified as paranoid schizophrenia and a delusional disorder, which began roughly a year prior. This mental state worsened during this time, fueled by his delusional beliefs.
His lawyer, Tim Clark, shared how Canuzo’s friends remembered him as a polite, lovely, and nice young man before his illness. They saw him as pleasant with great potential, but his mental health significantly deteriorated over time due to the illness.
Canuzo traveled alone to London, contacting MI5 about his beliefs, leading staff to contact the police. Subsequently, his parents took him to a hospital, where he received some treatment, but it was insufficient. No one was blamed for this, and following his return home, the killing occurred.
Mr. Clark emphasized the tragic nature of the case, arguing that Canuzo needed treatment, not punishment. He maintained that Canuzo’s responsibility was severely limited, urging the court to consider a hospital order.
A hospital order, Clark argued, offered the best hope for his mental health and would best protect him. He further contended that a regular prison sentence would be detrimental, potentially leading to neglect of his medication and posing a risk to others.
Judge Cummings described the event as horrifying and tragic, expressing sympathy for all affected, particularly Stephen McIntyre, who witnessed the attack through his doorbell. Considering the options of jail or a hospital order with a potential restriction order, and with both doctors agreeing on a hospital order with restrictions, the Judge sided with a hospital order.
Judge Cummings concluded that Canuzo posed a public risk while mentally unwell. Agreeing he should remain in the hospital to receive treatment until safe to discharge, if ever.