THE mother of a Warminster man who suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder expressed her horror that her son wanted to die in gruesome ways, an inquest heard.
Terrence Andrew Bennett was Tasered by police at his parents' bungalow in Hillwood Close, Warminster, after he had cut his wrists and throat. Despite their efforts to save him, he died on October 27, 2016.
The day before his death, the 44-year-old told his mother - and two nurses who visited him from Shearwater Lodge, at The Avenue, Warminster, because on October 25 he almost overdosed - that he wanted to be punished for the bad things he had done in his life.
His mother, Mary Bennett, said to the jury at Salisbury Coroners Court: "He said he wanted to cut off his arms and legs and have his ears, eyes and tongue taken out as a punishment - I have no idea why he said that."
She added that her son, who had been receiving psychiatric treatment for over 20 years, was diagnosed with schizophrenic effective disorder and manic depression, and experienced paranoid thoughts, believed he was at fault for terrible events that had taken place in history.
"He said he needed to be punished because he caused 9/11 and was behind the disappearance of Madeleine Mccann," said Mrs Bennett.
This inquest follows an Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry into Mr Bennett's death. Wiltshire's assistant coroner Nicholas Rheinberg told a jury that Mr Bennett had been staying at his parents’ bungalow since August that year.
The inquest, led by Wiltshire's assistant coroner Nicholas Rheinberg, is due to last a fortnight.
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