Gregory Davis

Case record: Gregory Davis

Status and current confinement

Gregory Davis was sentenced to closed psychiatric confinement in 2003. He served an indefinite sentence at Broadmoor Hospital and was later transferred to Littlemore Hospital, where he was allowed out on short release. A Mental Health Review Tribunal was to decide on his eventual release in July, 2011.

Timeline

• 28 January 2003 — Gregory Davis killed Dorothy Rogers and her son Michael Rogers.
• 15 December 2003 — Gregory Davis stood trial at Luton Crown Court and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
• 2009 — Gregory Davis was transferred to Littlemore Hospital.
• July, 2011 — A Mental Health Review Tribunal was to decide on his eventual release.

Background

Gregory Davis (born 1979) was an English spree killer and a former art student. He was the son of a civil engineer and a care assistant and grew up in Great Linford, Buckinghamshire, England. He attended secondary school at Radcliffe School. Davis first studied art during his sixth form and later at Northampton University. One of his works of art made during that period included a trophy plaque bearing the names of his favourite serial killers.

The offence

Gregory Davis used his diary to plot to murder and had been planning to be a serial killer. His diary entries included a desire to kill “ad infinitum ‘all over the world’”.

On 28 January 2003, he carried out a murder spree. He worked through a compiled hit list. He first paid a visit to Stewart Johnson, who escaped as kitchen fitters were working in his home. Davis continued down the list to Stantonbury, where the home of Dorothy Rogers failed to put up an obstacle to his murder plans.

At Dorothy Rogers’s home in Stantonbury, Dorothy Rogers, aged 48 and described as a divorcee, was stabbed 31 times. Michael Rogers, aged 19, was stabbed, bludgeoned, and disembowelled at a children’s playground.

Mick Cowles was attacked with a hammer and seriously wounded. Davis’s intended target was described as Mr Cowells, and he was said to have planned to kill Mr Cowells as part of an “original idea”.

Investigation

Davis’s “ambitions” to be a serial killer and his fascination with mass murder and killers were presented in court through extracts from his diary, which detailed a formula for his future life.

The diary reading included:

• “Quit job tomorrow. Get Mick killed. Get Stuart to withdraw cash everyday. When all gone, kill him. ”
• “Repeat Mick plan ad infinitum all over country and world in Las Vegas and swanky bars.”

Trial

On 15 December 2003, Gregory Davis stood trial at Luton Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Michael Cowells.

A team of five psychiatrists diagnosed him with major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, alcohol dependence, and that he was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time of the crime. Mr Justice Richard Aikens accepted the plea after the psychiatrists’ assessment. Mr Justice Richard Aikens said:

“I'm satisfied you are suffering from mental illness and that it is appropriate that you be detained in a hospital for mental treatment.”

Patrick Browne QC prosecuted the case. He said Davis knew Mr Cowells and Mrs Rogers from a pub, the Pilgrim's Bottle, Great Linford, where they used to drink.

In mitigation, Graham Parkins QC said:

“The general public must appreciate this was the action of a sick man.”

Sentencing

Mr Justice Richard Aikens accepted the plea and gave Gregory Davis an indefinite sentence to be served in a mental hospital. The sentence was described as being served at Broadmoor Hospital.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Gregory Davis remained detained and later was transferred to Littlemore Hospital.

In the period following transfer, Davis was allowed out on short release and was allowed out alone for two hours twice a week. His release involved routine outings from the Littlemore unit in Oxfordshire, including being driven back to Milton Keynes to visit his parents and time spent wandering around the Oxford area, chatting to strangers in cafes and shops for luxuries including hi-fi magazines. His outings were described as being unsupervised and subject to a curfew.

A friend of Dorothy Rogers’s family reacted to his release; the friend said:

“It's as if Davis just had a bad day at the office and is fit to go back to work again now. ”

The friend also said:

“This man absolutely ruined their lives with a premeditated and merciless attack. It was a bloodbath. If they say he is now sane then send him to an ordinary prison to finish his time.”

Another reaction from the victims’ side was:

“It seems all anybody cares about here is the killer.”

Another reported characterisation used the phrase:

“mortified”.

Aftermath / other details

Mr Cowells was later described as having died after a fall at home.