Politicians, Murder and Schizophrenia: A Case Example

This presentation uses publicly available information to describe the tragic case of Christopher Clunis and the tragic murder of Jonathan Zito. Christopher Clunis is a man diagnosed with schizophrenia who left a psychiatric hospital. Jonathan Zito was a young married man waiting to get on an underground train when without warning he was attacked and killed by Christopher Clunis. This event made headlines and was major news in the United Kingdom for some time afterwards.

There were a number of very significant consequences that followed affecting people beyond his family and friends. The outline facts of the case will be followed by a description and commentary on the political reaction to this, and the impact that this had on patient care.

Finally some suggestion will be made for a way forward in dealing with these tragic cases.