M ental I llness C oncerns A ll	A sub-culture of 'Travellers' is already disengaged from society in some ways. In this family some of its members engaged in theft. They and WM were sometimes in prison. WM never gets a settled and supportive personal base of his own, never gets together a life with a presence, and a future to hold him together. He develops a schizophrenia illness in late teens - his mother recognising the presenting illness during a prison sentence as she has it on her side of the family.She is knowledgeable about schizophrenia.WM subsequently assaulted his grandfather whom he thought had told him he was a muslim. He receives standard restorative and maintenance medication for schizophrenia, and the distraction from that illness recedes, whilst that proceeds. He is often seen taking alcohol and street drugs. He does not always turn up at the depot injection centre, but does so often enough, and is doing so sufficiently prior to the final event. He does not secure a settled and assured domestic base. His mother is always there for him when her other obligations allow it, and she is a contact for up-to-date comment. Social services do not maintain their interest, but fall into episodic involvement. Probation are involved but do not have community resources. The community nurse system is not that of a key worker position. WM turns against the consultant and does not keep a final Out-patient appointment. He has been discussed at a community review meeting after an incident of poor self worth, but no community intervention occurs, and the request for his mother for admission is countered by another OP appointment. His Care Programme Approach assessment remains at a simple level. Following a series of thefts with his brother, observed by the police on stakeout, this observation is withdrawn, before subsequent charges will be brought for the observed offences. WM enters premises lived in by a ninety year old woman, robs her, and beats her so that she dies. The opinion of many psychiatrists is that he was well enough when the event occurred and it should be seen as straightforward homicide, maybe under the influence of drugs taking. That is accepted and he goes to prison. Reviewed	E-mail reaction is welcome mica@didgy.freeserve.co.uk

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