ABSTRACT
This case study describes a forensic psychological assessment undertaken to assist a criminal Court case. Sam arrived in the UK from a war-torn country as an unaccompanied child and was placed into foster care, where although he received care from the foster parent, he was sexually and psychologically abused by an older foster child. Sam subsequently received a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which was complex because of the background of war, childhood trauma, and abuse within foster care. As an adult, Sam had been accused of stabbing an adult male. The victim was the man who Sam had previously reported as his abuser, and the man received life-threatening injuries. An expert assessment was required to examine any link between Sam’s PTSD and his alleged offence in order to assist Court proceedings. Assessment methods included clinical interview, psychometric testing, and a review of documentation. Sam’s level of psychological disturbance due to PTSD was high, and there were highly likely to have been some links between his PTSD and the offence. It could, however, not be concluded with certainty that Sam’s PTSD was a full explanation for the offence. The implications for this are discussed alongside recommendations for psychological treatment.
