In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 41-year-old Nadarajah Nithiyakumar—a shopkeeper from Ilford—was sent to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely for the “delusional” killing of his two young children. Nithiyakumar appeared at the Old Bailey where he admitted to two counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. It was reported that the investigation established Nithiyakumar slit the throats of 18-month-old Pavinya and three-year-old Nigish on 26 April 2020, while his wife was in the shower during the lockdown period.
The investigation established that Nithiyakumar, a Sri Lankan national who arrived in the UK in 1999, had been suffering from a chronic persecutory delusional disorder. The prosecution reported that he became convinced Scotland Yard was following him and that customers at the CVS Superstore in Hainault were “tormenting” him. The Old Bailey heard that Nithiyakumar resolved to kill himself and his children because he believed that without a father, the youngsters would grow up to be “naughty” and succumb to substance abuse.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Nithiyakumar unleashed a “scene of horror” in the family’s tiny flat in Aldborough Parade, using two kitchen knives to attack the sleeping children. The investigation established that when his wife, Nisanthini, emerged from the bathroom, he told her: “I’ve cut off the children.” The prosecution reported that Nithiyakumar then stabbed himself in the neck and chest in a failed suicide attempt, resulting in an induced coma before his eventual arrest and confession.
Judge-led proceedings at the Old Bailey, presided over by Mrs Justice Cutts, concluded that a prison sentence was inappropriate due to Nithiyakumar’s “chronic mental illness.” For his actions in Ilford and the “devastating impact” on his surviving wife, he was made subject to an indefinite hospital order under Sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act. The judge noted that Nithiyakumar’s “dangerousness” was a direct result of his untreated condition, and he will remain at a secure psychiatric facility until he is no longer deemed a risk to the public.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in East London and Ilford, the status of Nadarajah Nithiyakumar as of April 9, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: DETAINED (Indefinite Section 37/41 Hospital Order; currently at the John Howard Centre or similar secure facility).
- Release Status: UNKNOWN (Requires a Mental Health Tribunal and the Home Secretary’s approval for any future discharge).
- Sex Offenders Register: N/A (Convicted of manslaughter; mental health detention prioritised over standard registration).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Manslaughter by diminished responsibility x2).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the Old Bailey; investigated by the Metropolitan Police.
- Criminal Record: Slit the throats of his 18-month-old and 3-year-old; Motivated by paranoid delusions about Scotland Yard; Attempted suicide during the attack; Detained indefinitely in 2020.
- Origin: Aldborough Parade, Ilford, East London.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Nithiyakumar is managed as a high-risk patient within the secure psychiatric estate. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically the “premeditated killing of his own children based on delusions”—his management is a priority for the Ministry of Justice Mental Health Unit. Authorities state that his recovery has been reported as “slow” by psychiatrists, and he continues to exhibit chronic delusions of persecution, meaning his potential for release remains a distant prospect for the safety of the public.
As a matter of permanent criminal record, Nithiyakumar is barred for life from any work involving children or vulnerable people. Authorities state that the mother’s heartbreaking statement, describing the loss of her “perfect” and “miracle” children, serves as a testament to the “catastrophic damage” caused by his actions. Any eventual consideration for release will be subject to the most stringent conditions, including mandatory medication and lifelong supervision by mental health professionals to ensure that his “possession-based” delusions never again lead to an act of extreme violence.
QUESTION – Given that the offender had “sporadic” contact with mental health services for a decade before the tragedy, do you believe that “Antipsychotic Non-Compliance” should be a mandatory trigger for police intervention to prevent such catastrophic domestic events?
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