Murder suspect Ivan Esack had personality disorder and thought he could be PM: Court
by
Keith Hunt
An ex-police officer accused of murdering his wife suffered from
a mental condition which made him believe he was a potential Prime
Minister, a court heard.
Ivan Esack also compared himself to former South African
president Nelson Mandela, a psychiatrist told Maidstone Crown
Court.
Giving evidence for the defence, Dr Timothy Rogers said the
38-year-old football agent had a Narcissistic personality disorder
which could have diminished his responsibility.
The consultant forensic scientist said people suffering from the
disorder walked around in a bubble.
Esack saw himself as a Conservative Prime Minister but was
rejected as a Parliamentary candidate.
“It was an aspiration for himself which had little chance,” said
Dr Rogers. “He said: ‘I wanted to be Prime Minister. Everyone
dreams of that.’
“He spent £3,000 on a genuine James Bond watch. He fancied
himself as James Bond.”
Esack had worn it to work when a police detective. He enjoyed
the prestige of being in the police and exaggerated his ability and
success.
Ivan Esack's home is
cordoned off after the attack on his wife
He joined the Kent Force in 2003. He said he enjoyed
interviewing suspects and could be quite manipulative. He left
after six years because he was bored with the politics.
When he had problems, he was bailed out by his wealthy father,
who lived in Abu Dhabi. He built up the successful hairdressing
salon with his wife and later passed his Football Association
examinations to become an agent.
Giving evidence for the prosecution, consultant
forensic psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph said he agreed Esack had a
Narcissistic personality disorder but disagreed he had the
inability to exercise control.
“People who suffer from a Narcissistic disorder have the ability
to exercise control,” said Dr Joseph.
The psychiatrist had asked Esack to describe his personality as
a young adult and was told he was arrogant and had a high opinion
of himself.
He claimed to have a sixth sense about people and said he was
punching above his weight.
“I was manipulative as part of my personality, but I was not a
con man,” he told Dr Joseph. “I believe nothing was impossible. I
look at Nelson Mandela and when I get out of prison there is
nothing to stop me reaching my goals.”
He accepted being manipulative when in the police. He was
superficially charming and prided himself he had the ability to
manipulate people to do what he wanted.
When interviewing suspects, he would manipulate them to admit a
crime and receive a caution.
“Being a Narcissistic person also involves being a manipulative
person,” said Dr Joseph. “He always puts his own needs and emotions
first.
“He said success went to his head in the police force. He
thought he was the new Sherlock Holmes. He thought he had charisma
and business skills.
"...success went to his head in the police force. He thought he was the new Sherlock Holmes" – psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph
“It is important for
people who have this disorder to feel special. A corner stone of
this disorder is lack of empathy, the inability to share feelings
and identify with them.”
Dr Joseph said he agreed Esack suffered from a Narcissistic
personality disorder but did not believe it was “that severe”.
He added: “It does not prevent him from living his life in a
fairly functional way in terms of employment and marriage.
“It did not impair his ability to form a rational judgement. It
is my opinion this disorder is not associated with the inability to
exercise self-control.”
The psychiatrist said Esack could not look at matters from his
wife Natalie’s perspective and appreciate her feelings.
“It caused him to feel extremely angry and enraged and he took
matters into his own hands. It is likely during that period he felt
out of control.
“Actually killing Natalie was his way of exerting control over
her. It became much more in control when he did decide to go and
kill her.
“By stabbing her, it would be an act of revenge for her leaving
him and forming a relationship with someone else, and deceiving him
and lying to him.
“He is saying to himself: ‘I have lost her. She is not coming
back. I am going to control the situation by making sure no one
else has her.’”
Ivan Esack selects a
knife from Sainsbury's, before paying at a self-service checkout
and calmly walking out of the store before killing his wife
Esack told Dr Joseph he believed he was victimised and treated
badly by Natalie.
He denied being controlling and violent towards her, except in
the week leading up to her death.
He gave Natalie the impression he was going to kill himself
after she told him the relationship was over.
“His world collapsed and he wanted to finish her off,” said Dr
Joseph. “He saw it as a cold and cruel, perhaps punitive, thing she
said to him. That built up his anger and resentment and the need to
punish her, to somehow get his own back.”
He told the psychiatrist: “I felt betrayed. How could I be
treated like this in my hour of need? I felt totally humiliated,
small and belittled.”
Floral tributes outside
Esack hair and beauty
The night before Natalie was killed, he drank whisky and decided
to end his life in the salon, he claimed. He said he would go there
in the morning and cut his throat in front of Natalie to show her
how he was feeling.
He went to Sainsbury’s to buy a knife and cat food. He planned
to go home to feed his cat but went straight to the salon. He took
the knife out of the packaging and put it in his pocket.
Esack said he went into the salon and snapped when Natalie told
him to get out.
“I felt angry,” he said. “I lost it and stabbed her. I threw the
knife down on the computer. I didn’t attempt to harm myself.”
He said he had no memory of saying: “She deserved it, the
bitch.” Nor did he remember saying: “She ------ me over. She had it
coming to her. She drove me to it.”
Esack, of Rosewood Drive, Ashford, admits manslaughter but
denies murder.
He went to Esack Hair and Beauty in Ashford High Street on the
morning of April 30 last year after buying a knife and stabbed her
11 times.
The trial continues.
08/01/13
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