In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that Zak Bennett-Eko was found guilty of the manslaughter of his infant son, Zakari William Bennett-Eko, by reason of diminished responsibility. Bennett-Eko flung the baby into the River Irwell in Radcliffe on 11 September 2019. It was reported that the investigation established the infant died from hypothermia, drowning, or a combination of both after being pulled from the water.
The investigation established that Bennett-Eko was suffering from a severe state of psychosis at the time of the killing. The prosecution reported that he told doctors he believed his son was the devil and claimed he was being told to drown him. The Lowry Nightingale court heard that the defendant had spiralled into a state of paranoid schizophrenia, leading to the tragic events in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the jury had to navigate a complex route to verdict, choosing between a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity or manslaughter by diminished responsibility. The investigation established that for an insanity verdict, the jury would have needed to believe Bennett-Eko did not know what he was doing or did not know it was wrong. The prosecution reported that after less than three hours of deliberation on 30 November 2020, the jury opted for the manslaughter conviction, acknowledging his impaired mental state without meeting the full legal threshold for insanity.
Judge-led proceedings at the Nightingale court concluded with the jury returning their verdict to a public gallery filled with emotional family members. For his actions in Radcliffe and the devastating nature of the psychosis reported, Bennett-Eko was not present in court, remaining instead at Ashworth secure hospital. The judge noted that further psychiatric evidence would be required to determine the appropriate sentence, specifically whether a life sentence or a specialized hospital order would be issued.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Greater Manchester and the North West, the status of Zak Bennett-Eko as of April 11, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: DETAINED (Held under the Mental Health Act at a high-security secure hospital).
- Medical Status: Paranoid Schizophrenia (Severe psychosis at the time of the offence).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility).
- Sentence Type: Section 37/41 Hospital Order (Indefinite detention in a secure facility for public protection).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the Lowry Nightingale Court; investigated by Greater Manchester Police.
- Criminal Record: Threw his infant son into the River Irwell; Believed the child was the devil; Diagnosed with a disease of the mind; History of mental health deterioration prior to the killing.
- Origin: Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Bennett-Eko is managed as a high-risk patient within a secure clinical environment. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his lethal response to command hallucinations and the killing of a vulnerable infant—his management is a priority for psychiatric and justice authorities. Authorities state that his history identifies him as an individual who requires permanent medical and statutory oversight to prevent further tragedies, ensuring he remains in a high-security setting until he is no longer deemed a threat to the public.
As a convicted killer with significant mental health needs, the 28-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national database. Authorities state that the jury’s verdict of diminished responsibility ensures that while his illness is recognized, he remains legally accountable for the death of his son. Any future consideration for transfer or release would be subject to the most rigorous clinical assessments and the approval of the Secretary of State to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who demonstrated a lethal and delusional intent.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was found guilty of manslaughter rather than being found insane, do you believe that “Diminished Responsibility” should result in a mandatory hybrid order that ensures a prison term is served if the offender is ever successfully treated for their mental illness?
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