Soldier killed [the father of a friend] after psychotic reaction to cannabis

The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | October 10, 2006 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

A soldier who killed the father of a life-long friend in a frenzied attack after suffering a psychotic reaction to home grown cannabis has been jailed for 10 years.

Paratrooper Laurie Draper, 31, bludgeoned 53-year-old schoolteacher Paul Butterworth with a pair of garden shears after smoking the drug at his victim's home on March 7 this year.

Draper was jailed at St Alban's Crown Court today after admitting manslaughter on the grounds that his mental state had been affected by Mr Butterworth's home grown, high strength drug.

advertisementThe court heard that the Iraq War veteran, originally from Leicester but based at the Colchester Garrison was suffering from a cannabis-induced psychotic mental state when he smashed the three foot tree loppers into Mr Butterworth's head and body.

Jailing Draper, a lance corporal with more than eight years "exemplary" service, Judge Findlay Baker QC told him: "Your conduct became at first strange, then alarming, then delusional.

"Resisting attempts to calm you down, you attacked Paul Butterworth."

Draper, the judge added, also tried to attack Mr Butterworth's son Ashley when he tried to drag his now dead father's body away from the vicious onslaught.

Ashley was forced to flee to save his own life.

The judge added: "He did what he could to protect his father, no-one could have expected him to do more.

"Some of the blows landed on him and fearing for his life he desisted, leaving you to beat the brains out of his unfortunate father and eventually to drag his body, mutilated and barely recognisable to the living room sofa.

"This was an appalling attack of extreme and persistent violence. And I have no doubt it would not have happened if you had not consumed cannabis.

"Anyone who unlawfully takes a dangerous mind-altering controlled drug and who then finds that his mind is altered in unexpected and undesired ways must take responsibility for his subsequent actions."

Mr Butterworth, who would have celebrated his 54th birthday this week was described in court as a laid back man who loved animals and children and who smoked his home grown cannabis to relax.

In a statement read to the court Ashley Butterworth said telling his two children about their grandfather's death was "the hardest thing he had ever had to do."

[Chickensoup]

Marijuana is a hallucinagen. Some people do not do well at all on hallucinages. They become psychotic.

It is seem in inpatient psychiatric settings fairly often.

[Crim]

Damn...beat me to it by a mile...

[Chode]

bs...

[Sender]

Mr Butterworth, who would have celebrated his 54th birthday this week was described in court as a laid back man who loved animals and children and who smoked his home grown cannabis to relax.

Apparently it had a more calming effect on Mr Butterworth. Mrs Butterworth could not be reached for comment, as she was reportedly at a pancake breakfast.

[PLMerite]

"Does this explain the meaningless drivel of a TV show called "The Love Boat"?"


No, those writers had to be on 'ludes.

[Feiny]

I thought I was the only one who noticed that....and the other boy named Ashley? I wonder if he had a brother named Sue.

[xarmydog]

Eight years of exemplary service,yet only a Lance Corporal?Something doesn't jive.

[NicknamedBob]

"Anyone who unlawfully takes a dangerous mind-altering controlled drug and who then finds that his mind is altered in unexpected and undesired ways must take responsibility for his subsequent actions."

That's a refreshingly mature attitude.

[NicknamedBob]

Ah. Good.

I was thinking about something along the lines of his having adulterated the smoking product. Yours is better.

[Clintonfatigued]

There's more to this story than what's being told here. Perhaps the soldier in question had psychological problems not related to pot. Or, as some have speculated, the pot was laced with something.

[reillygirl246]

I'm not trying to be cute here (and I'm no expert), perhaps he smoked salvia divinorum or even jimson weed by accident? This is a pretty extreme reaction.


I was thinking the same thing, but I was thinking being that it was home grown maybe they were spraying the plants with something kids use to get high like dust away or glade or some weird aerosol product. That could possibly have that effect.

[cgk]

Reading another article on this - it certainly sounds like it!

[cgk]

You're probably right. I didn't realize salvia was illegal anywhere - though I think it should be. I saw someone on it once and it's TERRIFYING.

[cgk]

I think they were going for a twofer. They were blaming the para's Iraq service and the weed.

Excellent observation, and one I didn't even consider... I keep forgetting that outside DU and the MSM, there are people who don't like military.

[cgk]

Smoking dope would sometimes trigger Depression with me.

I'd prefer that to the alternative - it makes me throw up like I drank a bottle of tequila, then knocks me out for about 12 hours. Mary Jane and I are NOT compadres. I know others (MS sufferers) who smoke it and it helps them immensely. I make do without it. :)

[cgk]

Yikes! Such a friendly-sounding name, too!

[cgk]

LOL... and I was wondering just how genetic & organic they got in the creative gardening department to grow pot that made someone flip out. I tend to agree with others on the thread, there is a lot we haven't been told here.

[eleni121]

Not dangerous at all...real safe...yeah.

[DBrow]

Salvia is a shaman's tool- the shaman is the "undeveloped" world's shrink and doctor and psychologist.

I think that most of the strong hallucinogens should be available for our "civilized" MDs to use as similar tools. Currently they are not used, and for most of the Schedule 1 compounds, no research can be done.

Salvia's still legal in most of the USA, but DEA is trying hard to end that (by publicizing it in MSM to people who might just try it, hoping that someone will do something stupid. They jumped all over that poor kid who suicided in DE, tried to turn it into a national campaign- it's illegal in DE now).

[meema]

Sounds to me like somebody told the court what they wanted to hear (Reefer madness story) in a bid for leniency.

How true, cc. "Reefer madness" Indeed!
This is total BS.