Ilford man cleared of attempted murder after jury find him ‘legally insane’

A man who was found to be “legally insane” has been cleared of attempted murder after he attacked an outreach worker with a meat cleaver last year.

Robin Kardam, 44, of Madras Road, Ilford, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court this morning before a jury that returned the verdict “not guilty by reason of insanity”.

The verdict comes after both prosecution and defence agreed that there was “no dispute” that Mr Kardam carried out the attack on Sophia Burley in Ilford Lane on November 25 last year.

Doctors on both sides agreed that Mr Kardam was “legally insane” at the time of the attack.

The court heard how he had stopped taking medication for his paranoid schizophrenia for at least a month before the incident.

Following the verdict, Judge Simon Wilkinson imposed a restriction order on Mr Kardam, who was transferred to a hospital from police custody in February.

He said: “He is in hospital and that is where he will remain.

“You have heard that his condition is curable but it is important that he takes his medication.

“The hospital will make sure that he does and they will not release him unless they feel it is safe. There will be a special panel that will decide.”

Read yesterday’s prosecution and defence evidence here.