Ex-soldier cleared of gun murder
Published on Monday 2 April 2012
A former soldier from Leeds suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Afghanistan has been cleared of murdering his landlady.
Aaron Wilkinson, 24, of Alma Street, Woodlesford, Leeds, was found not guilty of murdering 52-year-old Judith Garnett by shooting her in the chest and head. The jury took around three hours to reach the not-guilty verdict after the two-week trial.
Wilkinson, who was also diagnosed with a form of Asperger's Syndrome, told Bradford Crown Court he was not in control of his actions when he shot Mrs Garnett. He has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The trial heard that Wilkinson joined the Territorial Army at 19 and went on a six-month tour of duty of Afghanistan in 2009. Following his return, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress reaction by an army doctor. He was later assessed by psychiatrists who diagnosed him with the more serious post-traumatic stress disorder.
Wilkinson had worked for Mrs Garnett on her game farm for around 10 years and moved into her attic room as a lodger in July 2010 after an argument with his mother. He described Mrs Garnett as being like a "second mother" to him.
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