Real-Life Case Study

In our film’s narrative, Marie has psychological issues which leads her to drugs, alcohol, and murdering her boyfriend; at the end of our narrative, she hangs herself. For my real-life case study I have chosen to write about Stacey Hyde; a 17 year old girl who killed her friend’s boyfriend, with it later being revealed about her abusive past.

Stacey Hyde was 17 years old when she found herself under arrest for murder. After a night out drinking with her friend, Holly Banwell 27, the pair decided to return to Holly’s flat which was shared with her boyfriend, Vincent Francis, 34. Stacey said she heard Holly screaming for help, and with Vincent having a history of being violent, she ran to help. After being attacked, Stacey grabbed a knife and stabbed Vincent, with him then suffering from 17 wounds. When police arrived, Stacey was hunched in the corner sobbing “He tried to kill me… I had to help Holly… he was going to kill her… I thought he would kill me…”.

Less than a year later, Stacey was found guilty of murder, and at the age of 18, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Four years later, Stacey was still in prison. However, after appealing her murder sentence, there was a chance she could be released. Lawyers argued that there was new evidence supporting a defence of diminished responsibility, relating to Stacey’s mental health. Although no serious mental health issues were found when studied by adult psychiatrists, a number of issues in Stacey’s past were later revealed. Along with abuse and the lack of a father figure, Stacey also suffered from bulimia, heavy drinking, self-harm and drug use, and past suicide attempts as well as having a personality disorder and ADHD. This proves her diminished responsibility, and lack of intent to murder.

Stacey’s mental health issues mean she is struggling more than the average inmate, with recent attempts of suicide. Stacey’s mum adds “mentally its really knocked her back because she can’t remember it happening… it must be very hard to be punished for something you don’t remember”.

• In our film, Marie is abused as a child, leading to depression, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders in later life. Marie turns to drugs and alcohol in order to free herself from her mental pain. When Marie’s boyfriend, Jamie, tries to help Marie, she mistakes it with him trying to hurt her, leading to Marie killing him in a rage. The case of Stacey Hyde links to our narrative of Marie, with both Stacey and Marie suffering from mental disorders, as well as taking drugs and alcohol leading to murder.