Zacs - //Andy, I'm a bit confused as to your stance here. At 13:27 you wrote:
'In fact, diagnosing severe mental illness is extremely difficult, and I would suggest it is beyond anyone to fake it in a manner that would be believed by the medical personal who have diagnosed and treated Broadmooor patients.'
Yet, later posts suggest via your claim that a person doesn't have to have psychological issues to murder, you don't think Sutcliffe has such issues. Or have I misunderstood? //
As I understand it, Sutcliffe's plea of insanity was tested and rejected at the time of his trial, but after three years in prison, he was judged to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and transferred to Broadmoor Hospital.
So it may be that he was suffering from mental illness at the time of his crimes, and it was not picked up - it may be that he developed the illness while in prison - all of this is obviously speculation.
So the short answer (!) to your question, do I believe Sutcliffe had mental issues at the time of his crimes and conviction - yes I do - but as I said, I don't believe that they are a necessary ingredient in a murder scenario.