Man commited to hospital for killing sister and mother

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A Greater Manchester man with a history of mental illness has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order for killing his sister and mother.

John Rao, 44, who spent the last four years in psychiatric care, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Geeta and Leela Rao on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The Standish resident was only recently deemed fit to plead. A judge ruled to the contrary after considering evidence from doctors during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court in 2009.

Geeta, 43, died at the time of the stabbing on Tuesday 19th February 2008, while Leela, 73, passed away following a bout of pneumonia brought on by her injury several months later. She had been in hospital since the incident.

Rao has a long history of mental illness and argued with his family frequently as a result.

On the day of the fatal attacks, Rao had travelled to London in the hope of obtaining a travel visa, but had his application turned down. He spend the return journey brooding, and conspiring to harm his family.

He returned to Wigan and made his way to Geeta's house on Collingwood Street, purchasing a knife on the way.

Leela also visited her daughter's house at 5.30pm that day, and she was surprised to find her son there. He explained that he was locked out of his home having lost his keys, and soon became aggressive.

Rao then offered to make a tea, and advanced to the kitchen followed by Geeta. Once there, he stabbed his sister in the knife and back before returning to the lounge and stabbing his mother in the neck.

Geeta's two children, then aged 12 and 16, were in the house at the time.

The victims were taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary, where Geeta was rushed into surgery but died at around 10.20pm that night.

Her mother was transferred to Hope Hospital where she was taken in for surgery for a damaged spinal chord. She was paralysed from the waist down as a result of the attack, and died on Monday 11th August 2008.

Rao was arrested outside his home shortly after the attacks took place.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Reade said: "This is a tragedy that has devastated a whole family and left two children without a mother and grandmother. Not even the time that has gone by makes this any easier but I hope that todays outcome allows them to move forward and continue rebuilding their lives."