Murder accused lied about mental illness, court told

University lecturer Barry Hounsome was found dead at his home in Southcroft Road, Gosport

An Army cadet avoided a murder conviction for killing his stepfather by lying to psychiatrists about hearing voices in his head, a court has heard.

Vladimir Ivashikin, then 16 and from Gosport, Hampshire, admitted the manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility of university lecturer Barry Hounsome in October 2018.

But the case was reopened after it was alleged he told a nurse he faked his psychiatric symptoms, a trial at Southampton Crown Court was told.

Ivashikin, 22, denies murder.

Mr Hounsome suffered "catastrophic" head injuries as well as at least 35 stab and slash wounds when he was attacked with electric drills, knives and a hammer, the court heard.

Ivashikin told police he had heard "voices" ordering him to kill the 54-year-old at their home in Southcroft Road.

John Price KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Ivashkin had "no clinical history of mental illness".

'Fabricated symptoms'

He said it appeared the first time the defendant had ever told anyone about a voice in his head commanding him to do something was on the day of the killing.

Mr Price told the jury the defendant had "fabricated symptoms of illness as a ploy" to obtain a transfer to a different ward within the hospital

He added that after speaking to the nurse, Ivashikin then said: "The truth is out now... the game is finally up."

The court heard that psychiatrists decided in 2022 that Ivashikin was not ill and did not require medical treatment.

A hearing was later scheduled before the Mental Health Tribunal and a barrister representing the defendant told the panel their client had "never had a mental disorder".

The trial continues.