A 26-year-old man received an indefinite psychiatric sentence for attempting to kill his parents last July. The Odense court ruled he must remain in a secure mental health facility.
The attack occurred on July 5 near a bonfire hut in Odense, Denmark's third-largest city. Court documents reveal the man stabbed his mother in the neck, causing life-threatening blood loss. He then turned the knife on his father, stabbing him in the back.
Both parents survived when the mother struck her son in the head with a stone. This stopped his violent assault during the family gathering.
Forensic psychiatrists determined the man was legally insane during the attack. Denmark's Medico-Legal Council confirmed he requires indefinite psychiatric confinement rather than standard prison sentencing.
The defendant had previous psychiatric hospitalizations where he displayed violent behavior. He was previously convicted for attempting to attack a staff member with a knife on Christmas Eve 2023.
This case highlights ongoing challenges in Denmark's mental health system, particularly regarding violent patients who cycle through institutions without adequate long-term solutions. The indefinite sentence reflects the court's assessment that he remains a serious danger to society.