Page 198 - 3. 2014 1st half New 26-05-21 No Table

Mr Cordell tried to hang himself at the age of 16 when in a young offender’s institution; he
says he 1st consciousness and needed to be resuscitated. He was moved to a high security
hospital and kept in seclusion on a number of occasions, but he says he would destroy the
padded cell with his teeth. He says he was seen regularly by a psychiatrist called Dr Caplin
from "the safe project". He says there was a second occasion where he tried to hang himself
when in a cell after he was sentenced. He has not had contact with mental health services for
the last 15 years.
Past Medical History: Nil
Personal History:
Mr Cordell was born at North Middlesex University Hospital. He has a younger brother and
sister. Mr Cordell says he knows his maternal grandmother attempted suicide on a number of
occasions and had had psychiatric hospital admissions. Mr Cordell's father worked as a union
representative and his mother ran her own computer company. Mr Cordell says he did not get
on well with his father who was a violent man. He was violent towards Mr Cordell, Mr
Cordell's mother and siblings. Mr Cordell left home at the age of fifteen and was homeless
for a while. He was placed in to care after stealing a pint of milk. He was placed in a series of
children's care homes around the UK but says that each time he would steal a car and drive
back to London. Mr Cordell said he was pushed hard to achieve at school by his father and
that he was "an A-star student" for most of the time. He says he was intelligent and would do
the work at other times and as a result would often just "mess about" in class. He went on to
college and studied engine mechanics, completing a city & guilds qualification. After
105
leaving school, he went on to get jobs in the construction industry. Mr Cordell says he has
tried to build himself up a business for providing party entertainment. At the moment he says
he is not able to earn from this due to the restrictions of his bail. Mr Cordell has had one long
term relationship which he describes as "my first true love". This is with a woman called
Diana who is currently studying physiotherapy. They were together thirteen years but he says
she has moved back out of his flat in recent months. Mr Cordell thinks this is secondary to
the repeated involvement of the police in their lives and the stress this has caused. Mr Cordell
lives in a one-bedroom council flat. He says things have been financially difficult in recent
months as his benefits were stopped and he has had to borrow from friends and relatives. His
benefits have been restarted now. Mr Cordell says he does not smoke tobacco and does not
drink alcohol. He says he does occasionally smoke "skunk".
Forensic History:
Mr Cordell was put in a Young Offender's Institution at the age of 16 after repeated driving
offences (driving without a license) Mr Cordell says he has not been in trouble with the
police for a number of years. He had stolen some trainers at a festival in 2009 and prior to
that had not been in trouble since 2005. He denied any violent offences. Mr Cordell currently
stands accused of burglary. He has a solicitor and the case will not be heard until July at the
earliest.
Mental State Examination:
Mr Cordell presented as a tall mixed-race man with short dark hair and beard, dressed
appropriately in trousers and coat. He sat in a relaxed manner throughout our interview
making good eye contact. His speech was a little rapid, but normal in rhythm and tone. His
mood was described as "anxious", objectively it was a little low with a reactive affect. There
was no evidence of formal thought disorder; content focused around the problems caused by
his bail conditions. He described suicidal thoughts but said he had no plan to act on the
thoughts due to wanting justice first. Mr Cordell denied abnormal perceptions and was not
obviously responding to any. Cognition was not formally assessed but appeared grossly