"A man accused of murdering his six-year-old daughter in a fit of rage
told a psychologist that he believed violence improved his mood, a
court has heard. Ben Butler, who is on trial for the alleged murder of Ellie Butler,
told the doctor that he would become angry and punch people, a jury at
the Old Bailey heard. The court was also told that Butler said he found it difficult to
control his violence when he was threatened, humiliated or mocked. The alleged admissions were referred to in a report compiled by Tim
Green, a clinical psychologist who interviewed Butler in 2004 over four
hours, in preparation for sentencing after Butler pleaded guilty to
assaulting a man in a kebab shop in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. Green, who is ill in hospital, told police that he did not feel
confident giving evidence about Butler’s present behaviour because of
the passage of time. However, a short section of the 2004 report was
read to the jury. Green reported Butler had “stated that he had in the past hoped that
situations might present themselves wherein he could engage in
violence”. His report added: “He believed that violence used to help him improve
his mood when he was upset. He stated that historically he would become
angry and then punch people. .......... However, he made clear in two recent emails to a police officer
involved with the trial that he was “very uncomfortable” commenting on
Butler’s present functioning. He said the formal assessement had happened “so far in the past” that
many things could have happened to affect Butler’s behaviour that he
may “not be aware of and may not have had the opportunity to assess”. “I would make the point again that my report is very out of date and I
would not feel confident speaking to it given the distance of time,”
said Green in one email on 7 May. However, he made clear in two recent emails to a police officer
involved with the trial that he was “very uncomfortable” commenting on
Butler’s present functioning. He said the formal assessement had happened “so far in the past” that
many things could have happened to affect Butler’s behaviour that he
may “not be aware of and may not have had the opportunity to assess”. “I would make the point again that my report is very out of date and I
would not feel confident speaking to it given the distance of time,”
said Green in one email on 7 May. Butler, 36, allegedly murdered Ellie when he was alone at home with her and another child. Butler and his partner, Jennie Gray, also 36, are jointly charged
with child cruelty over an untreated broken shoulder the girl sustained
weeks before her death. They both deny the charges. The trial continues."
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Bulletin: Ben Butler; U.K. On-going trial: The Guardian: "Murder accused Ben Butler 'believed violence improved his mood: Clinical psychologist’s report from 2004 read out to jury at the Old Bailey in trial of man accused of murdering his daughter." ...However, he made clear in two recent emails to a police officer involved with the trial that he was “very uncomfortable” commenting on Butler’s present functioning. He said the formal assessement had happened “so far in the past” that many things could have happened to affect Butler’s behaviour that he may “not be aware of and may not have had the opportunity to assess”...“I would make the point again that my report is very out of date and I would not feel confident speaking to it given the distance of time,” said Green in one email on 7 May. "
