Hospital order for man who fatally stabbed grandfather in Hockwold
A man who killed his grandfather while experiencing a severe mental health crisis has been detained in hospital and cannot be released without Ministry of Justice approval.
A man from Whittington has been sentenced to a hospital order after fatally stabbing his grandfather in the neck while experiencing a psychotic episode in Hockwold in 2024.
Ashley Francis, aged 27, was made the subject of a hospital order with a restriction under the Mental Health Act at Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday 21 May 2025. He cannot be released unless approved by the Ministry of Justice.
The court heard that Mr Francis stabbed his 81-year-old grandfather on the morning of 29 February 2024 in Main Street, Hockwold, after being dropped off by his mother to meet a mental health crisis team. The stabbing was described as a spontaneous act carried out in front of his grandmother using a knife he had brought from home.
Police were called to the scene at around 8.50am. Mr Francis was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. After his grandfather later died in hospital on 7 March 2024, the charge was upgraded to murder.
Mr Francis denied the charge. In March 2025, a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity after hearing psychiatric evidence that he was suffering from a major mental illness at the time of the incident.
The court was told that Mr Francis had long-standing mental health issues and had not been consistently taking his prescribed medication. He was close to his grandparents and regularly stayed with them.
Detective Superintendent Stuart Chapman said: “This was a very sad and tragic case where evidence was heard of the major mental illness that Ashley Francis was suffering which led to such devastating consequences.
“The evidence had allowed the jury to reach the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity and today's sentence of a hospital and restriction order.
“My thoughts are with all the family of Mervyn and Ashley in what is a very difficult time for them.”