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Home / New Zealand

Schizophrenic man who killed homeless woman unfit for trial, detained in hospital as a special patient

Emily Moorhouse
By Emily Moorhouse
Open Justice multimedia journalist, Christchurch ·NZ Herald·
10 Nov, 2022 04:11 AM5 mins to read

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Richard Landkroon told police he kicked homeless woman Barbara Campbell approximately 30 times in the head before leaving her bleeding and unconscious. Photo / George Heard

Richard Landkroon told police he kicked homeless woman Barbara Campbell approximately 30 times in the head before leaving her bleeding and unconscious. Photo / George Heard

WARNING: This story discusses graphic details that may be distressing.

A schizophrenic man who believed people could read his thoughts and kicked a homeless woman to death has been declared unfit stand trial and will now be detained in a hospital as a special patient.

Richard Landkroon, 44, was charged with murder after kicking Barbara Campbell, known to the community as Rose, to death in January in the New Brighton car park in Christchurch where she set up camp.

Campbell was well-known in the community and her death shocked locals, with many laying flowers and leaving heartfelt messages where she was killed.

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Landkroon was under the care of a General Adult Community Mental Health Team, but was homeless, psychotic, and actively using substances during the attack which saw him repeatedly kick Campbell while she lay on the ground.

The attack was described in court as violent and without motive.

Last month in the High Court at Christchurch, Justice Jonathan Eaton accepted that Landkroon was unfit to plead or stand trial and that the evidence showed he had committed the murder.

Today, Justice Eaton said he was satisfied with the health and psychiatric reports that Lankroon should be detained in a hospital as a special patient.

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The health and psychiatric reports stated Landkroon has suffered from schizophrenia for more than two decades, which has been complicated by his substance abuse and severe personality disorder.

One report stated that Landkroon was making “slow but positive progress” but continues to think people can read his thoughts and poses a high risk to the safety of others.

Another report said at the time of the offence Landkroon believed he was being persecuted by his neighbours and that they were speaking “ill” of him.

The report indicated that Landkroon would not cope within the community, leading to a deterioration in his mental state with a high potential for further incidents of serious violence.

According to the summary of facts presented to the court, on January 12 at 10.35pm Landkroon entered the car park on Hawke St and sat down next to Campbell.

An argument developed between the two and Campbell told Landkroon to leave several times and that she was going to call the police before Landkroon stood up and kicked Campbell at least 15 times to her head and upper body.

He then walked away, leaving her lying on the ground but returned a minute later to kick her another five times to the head and upper body. Campbell was unconscious and bleeding heavily as Landkroon walked away from her, toward the beach.

Ambulance and police staff arrived and attempts were made to resuscitate Campbell before she was taken to hospital, still unconscious. Meanwhile, Landkroon returned to the car park and was taken into custody by police.

Campbell sustained major external injuries to her head and face consisting of a large laceration to her right temple which exposed her skull, and a number of abrasions and bruises to her nose, left forehead, the left upper rear of her head and both ears.

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She also suffered 60 minor individual blunt force injuries consisting of bruises and grazing which were dispersed over her body.

She was pronounced dead at 12.40am on January 13 due to blunt force traumatic brain injuries and haemorrhage from the assault.

When Landkroon was interviewed by police he admitted to kicking Campbell approximately 30 times to the head.

Canterbury metro area commander Superintendant Lane Todd said police were called to an incident involving Landkroon earlier in the night, involving an incident between Landkroon and another man. Landkroon was cooperative with police and no further action was required.

“Our officers who attended dealt with this incident appropriately, based on the information available to them at the time.”

Police received a call a short time later from a woman who reported that a man had punched her vehicle and then chased her car as she tried to drive away in New Brighton. The man had run off and police did not have an exact location for him.

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“Local units were made aware of the man and his description and told to keep an eye out for him but he was not located.

“Barbara Campbell’s death was extremely tragic and our thoughts continue to be with her family.”

Justice Eaton expressed his deepest level of sympathy to Campbell’s family and friends, some of whom were in court today.

Where to get help

If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

For counselling and support

Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP)

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Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Need to talk? Call or text 1737

Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202

For children and young people

Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234

What’s Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)

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For help with specific issues

Alcohol and Drug Helpline: Call 0800 787 797

Anxiety Helpline: Call 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)

OutLine: Call 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) (6pm-9pm)

Safe to talk (sexual harm): Call 0800 044 334 or text 4334

All services are free and available 24/7 unless otherwise specified.

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For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service. The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts on its website.


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