Co-op killer had history of violence, inquest told

John Rees died after being attacked at the Co-op in Penygraig, Rhondda Cynon Taf

A woman who launched an unprovoked attack killing an 88-year-old man at a supermarket had a history of violence, an inquest has heard.

John Rees died after being set upon by Zara Radcliffe at the Co-op in Penygraig, Rhondda Cynon Taf in May 2020.

Radcliffe pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained under a hospital order in October 2020.

The inquest into Mr Rees's death in Pontypridd heard Ratcliffe had received treatment on a number of occasions for the previous decade.

Radcliffe – who was prescribed anti-psychotic medication - told police after her arrest she had been hearing voices telling her to kill someone or she would be killed herself.

The inquest heard details of previous incidents including when she had attacked staff and a police officer in 2017.

Radcliffe was an inpatient on a mental health ward between October 2019 and February 2020 and had treatment on a number of occasions since 2009.

A risk assessment completed by a mental health nurse in January 2020 mentioned a history of aggression and violence.

But it also showed that her mental health had improved as she had been taking anti-psychotic medication.

She was discharged from hospital on 24 February 2020 - just over two months before the attack.

The inquest also heard evidence from a man who had started a relationship with her in the weeks before she killed John Rees.

Leighton Meredith told the court Radcliffe had stayed with him at his home in Penrhys on a number of occasions, and was with him in the days leading up to the attack.

He told the coroner that he was aware she was taking medication after being sectioned.

He said that he was not aware of any change in her nature in the days leading up to the attack, and that the only thing that was different on the morning of the attack in May 2020 was that she did not want him to walk her home.

The inquest continues.