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Offender Database Raymond Cullen

Raymond Lloyd Cullen

Alias

.

Offences

Stabbed a pensioner to death in Geraldine, South Canterbury in July 2001

Victims

Desmond Payne

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

Epitaph Riders in the 1970's, severed connections some years ago

Age

Born 1956

Current Location

Secure psychiatric institution

Parole/Release Dates

Committed for an indefinite period as a special patient in May 2002
Thought to have to have since been considered for release?

Background
NZ Herald story here with background here
Later admitted in the Christchurch District Court to the killing according to Otago Daily Times article 28th May 2002.

Desmond Payne's family are outraged with the mental health system.

Further information
Criticism of the mental health system from police, following the verdict in the case of a man stabbed to death in a Geraldine hotel car park. A Timaru jury found Raymond Cullen not guilty of murdering Desmond Payne, by reason of insanity. Cullen stabbed Mr Payne 14 times in March last year, but his defence argued he was insane at the time. During the trial, the court heard Cullen was an undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. Our reporter in court for the verdict says there were tears in the public gallery, and shouts of "you murdering bastard". The police officer in charge of the inquiry says the mental health system needs to do more to protect innocent people. Detective Inspector Paul Kench says proactive steps are needed when it comes to diagnosing mental illness. He says it's wrong that an innocent man was killed for no reason. Cullen has been detained as a special patient under the Mental Health Act.

See story at the www.crime.co.nz site

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Corrections and Additional Information
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