A mother from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, has been handed an indefinite hospital order for the manslaughter of her seven-year-old son, Louis Linse, after she strangled him, reportedly under the influence of severe mental illness.
Papaipit Linse, 43, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following the tragedy on January 10. On the morning of her son’s death, Linse called emergency services to report the incident, admitting to the operator, “I killed my son.” During the call, she described her mental state, saying, "I felt like a robot" and "couldn’t control myself" at the time she committed the act.
According to court documents, psychiatrists have diagnosed Linse with paranoid schizophrenia, which they believe significantly impacted her actions. This mental health condition was the cornerstone of her plea to the charge of manslaughter, which the prosecution accepted, though she denied murder. Judge Paul Thomas acknowledged her mental illness, stating, “Your son Louis was not killed by you because you are a wicked person, he died because at the time you were suffering from mental illness.”
On the day of the incident, police arrived at Linse’s home to find young Louis unresponsive. Despite efforts from emergency responders and officers to revive him with CPR, he was declared dead shortly thereafter.
Linse’s distressing call to the emergency service was played during the court proceedings. It revealed her heart-wrenching admission to the horrific act as she repeatedly stated, "I killed my son". The chilling words emphasized her mental breakdown as she articulated, “I was completely twisted; all kinds of things came up in my mind. I felt like a robot, and I did it.”
The court heard accounts from Linse's family and mental health service providers, shedding light on the mother's declining state prior to the tragedy. A babysitter who was familiar with the family noted changes leading up to the incident, indicating Linse’s mental health was deterioriating. She described Linse as going from “put together” to appearing “unclean and not looking after herself.” The babysitter voiced concerns about Linse’s odd behavior, including her belief in conspiracy theories and her claim of being haunted by ghosts. Alarmed by these changes, she contacted local authorities the day before the incident.
Despite these signs of distress, the safeguarding department had previously been aware of Linse's situation and indicated they were monitoring the family. At the time, Linse's husband was also receiving treatment for psychiatric issues, adding to the family’s struggles.
Judge Thomas remarked on the tragic nature of the case, extending empathy for the family’s loss as well as concern for Linse’s mental health. He asserted, “What happened to [Louis] was an unspeakable tragedy, and I hope the reasoning behind the order will be understood by those who knew him.”
Linse is currently being treated at the Caswell Clinic, a mental health unit based out of Bridgend. The judge clarified Linse’s future release from the hospital will depend entirely on the psychiatric assessments of her recovery.
Following the court's decision, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Williams from Dyfed-Powys Police expressed sorrow over the heartbreaking case, sharing condolences for all who loved the little boy. He highlighted the thorough investigation and the collaboration with mental health specialists to conclude Linse's mental state led her to commit the grievous act.
Although the court’s decision acknowledged Linse’s culpability under diminished responsibility, it also serves to underline the often-buried connection between severe mental health issues and tragic outcomes. The community is left reeling from the consequences of this tragedy, as they grapple with the challenging realities of mental illness and its potential to devastate families.