He appeared at London's Old Bailey by video-link from Broadmoor Hospital yesterday, having been detained under the 1983 Mental Health Act. Chail, 21, pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill the late monarch and travelling to Windsor Castle with an offensive weapon.
He admitted a rare charge under the 1842 Treason Act which states: "Near to the person of the Queen, you did wilfully produce or have a loaded crossbow with intent to use the same to injure the person of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, or to alarm Her Majesty." A case summary produced by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that the Queen was at Windsor Castle, along with other members of the royal family who had gathered to celebrate Christmas when Chail was caught.
A protection officer from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was on duty shortly after 8am on 25 December 2021 when he noticed Chail "walking slowly through the private grounds towards him".
When the officer approached, he saw that Chail was wearing a hood, gloves and a mask that looked "like something out of a vigilante movie or [like he was] dressed for Halloween". Prosecutors said the officer unclipped his Taser and asked Chail: "Morning, can I help mate?" The defendant replied "I am here to kill the Queen", and the police officer saw his crossbow.
This story is from the February 04, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the February 04, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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