Harrison attacker found not guilty

LONDON--Michael Abram, the man who was accused of trying to murder former Beatle George Harrison, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Abram’s trial began on Tuesday (11/14) at England’s Oxford Crown Court, where it was heard that he believed that Harrison was an "alien from Hell" and that the Beatles were "witches flying on broomsticks."

The trial judge, Mr. Justice Astill, directed the jury to find Abram not guilty due to insanity after psychiatrists found him to be a paranoid schizophrenic. Abram will now be detained indefinitely at a psychiatric hospital. Astill refused an application from the Harrisons to be alerted if Abram was ever released back into the community. They are now expected to appeal to Britain’s Home Secretary for notification.

After the trial was concluded on Wednesday (11/15), George Harrison's son Dhani said, "It's tragic anyone should suffer such a mental breakdown. We can never forget he was full of hatred and violence when he came into our home. Naturally the prospect of him being released back into society is abhorrent to us."

34-year-old Abram, from Liverpool, England, violently attacked 57-year-old Harrison and his wife, 52, at their home in Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire, after breaking into it on Dec. 30, 1999. Abram stood trial for two charges of attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, unlawful wounding and aggravated burglary.

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