Bad or vulnerable? How the internet can influence offending: case examples Dr David Murphy Chartered Forensic & Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist Neuroscience Department, Broadmoor Hospital Email: david.murphy@wlmht.nhs.uk
Not just hacking
Two case examples of young men diagnosed with autistic spectrum conditions admitted to high security psychiatric care for assessment For both, the use of computers played a significant role in planning their offending & influencing behaviour Both high profile in media
Bomber s mum says he was brainwashed by fanatics (The Mirror, Oct 2008) Clumsy bomber jailed for 18 years (The Mirror, Jan 2009) Nurse killed by man living in a virtual world (The Times, June 2007) Teenage fantasist is guilty of stabbing nurse to death (The Times, June 2007) Sick web fantasist stabbed nurse on cig break 70 times (The Mirror, June 2007)
23 years old with no forensic history or convictions Converted to Islam following belief that West is corrupt & to blame for problems in world Became preoccupied with images of 9/11 & Iraq Convicted of possession of explosives & intent, attempted murder (section 47 / 49) Bomb failed to detonate Case one
Case background Spent significant amount of time looking at images on internet linked to Iraq and bombings Bomb making information obtained from internet Made contact with Muslim chat rooms & others Denies any involvement of others or of being encouraged to commit offences (?) History of being taken advantage of Contact with psychiatric services prior to offence Changed name
Broadmoor assesment Low PCL R score (5) Impairments present on range of executive functioning & other cognitive measures (VIQ / PIQ discrepancy) Within Broadmoor remains focused on Jihad, but with some shift in beliefs about whether it is right to take another life (some victim empathy present)
19 year old with no forensic history or convictions Convicted of murder (stabbed victim over 70 times) a nurse in hospital car park Offence carried out within context of attempt to steal a car Preoccupied with carrying out a coup in EG raising funds to achieve this Case two
Case background Preoccupied with wish to carry out a military coup in Equatorial Guinea (calculated that he needed 160,000 to complete plan) since failed attempt by Mark Thatcher Needed a car to carry out raids on different shops, etc. to obtain funds Internet main focus of interest & information gathering History (years) of using internet to acquire facts (such as names of prime ministers since 1700s, weapons, etc.) Only regret for offence expressed was his conviction had interfered with plans to carry out coup ( messed up plans ) / no victim empathy Despite plans, victim was not intended one & did not consider noise of victim or her car (a mini) Killing victim initially shocking, but did not play a big part in his life No shift in thinking & wish (egocentric & preoccupied) Thoughts of killing others / Columbine style massacre interest (link with some experience of being bullied at school) Denied interest in sex, but violent sexual images found on computer & condoms in bag for index offence No psychiatric history prior to offence
Case two background Much of teenage years spent alone at computer, with no friends Indifferent to other people WASI full scale IQ superior range, but with small VIQ > PIQ discrepancy & some degree of scatter among subtests No overt difficulties in basic executive functioning tests, memory, etc. 24/36 revised eyes task
Case similarities Both assessed during remand period Conventional risk assessment tools (e.g. HCR 20, VRAG, START) would not have predicted any overt risk No previous forensic history or convictions No history of alcohol or illicit substance misuse Supportive families Vulnerable to influence (social, ideas) Socially isolated & victims of being bullied History of different preoccupations Gradual increase in usage of computers, interest & wish to act on ideas Internet played a central role in development of ideas, decision making & planning of offending Rigid thinking styles & failure to appreciate consequences of actions for others & self
AQ profiles Cases Comparative data 1 2 A B C D Social skill 8 10 7.4 (2) 2.6 (2.3) 5.0 (2.8) 4.3 4.1 Attention switching Attention to detail 7 10 7.7 (1.9) 3.9 (1.9) 5.1 (2.6) 5.3 4.6 6 10 6.6 (2.3) 5.3 (2.3) 3.5 (2.3) 4.5 3.9 Communication 6 5 7.2 (2) 2.4 (1.9) 4.5 (2.1) 3.5 3.1 Imagination 6 6 6.2 (2.2) 2.3 (1.7) 4.4 (2.4) 4.2 4.7 Total 33 41 35.1 (6.9) 17.8 (6.8) 22.5 (8.4) 21.7 20.5 A mean score adults with ASD students B mean score for normal adults C - mean score for adults with ASD at clinic D Broadmoor hospital MI & PD patients
Case differences Impaired in most cognitive tests (full scale IQ borderline / low average, but discrepancy between verbal & performance abilities) Less in impaired in social perceptual mentalisation (77.7% correct in revised eyes task) AQ profile suggests lower impairment (33 total score) Low psychopathy rating (5) Some regret & remorse for offence Motivated by religious idea, inclusion in group, wish to be recognised by others A wish for friendships Engaged fully with psychological assessment & subsequent interventions Relatively able in most cognitive tests (full scale IQ in superior range) More difficulties in social perceptual mentalisation (66.6% correct in revised eyes task) AQ profile suggests greater impairment (41 total score) Higher psychopathy rating (11) No remorse Motivated by personal desire, distorted reasoning No friends, a loner, no wish for friendships (schizoid) Dismissed legal representation, abusive in court, refused to attend court for trial
The revised eyes task
Outcomes Case two convicted of murder & returned to prison no shift in any of thinking & remains isolated 3 years later (prison struggles to engage with him) Case one remained within Broadmoor hospital, engaged in all interventions & being considered to move / accepted to specialist medium secure unit
Questions How unusual are the features of these cases? What is the functional connection between cases (Both cases vulnerable & computers helped to fulfil a need)? Appropriate & accurate risk assessments sensitive to specific difficulties associated with ASD Identifying specific vulnerability factors at early stage (social isolation, history of being bullied, preoccupations, cognitive factors literal thinking, perspective taking difficulties, etc.) therapeutic targets? What protective factors are there? How can individual strengths be used constructively? Interventions & management (immediate & long term) Future access to internet how can this be managed safely? How can computers / internet be used in a therapeutic way? Developing & encouraging pro social thinking, social skills, perspective taking, promoting social inclusion
Thank you