The negative portrayal by the media of people diagnosed with a mental health disorder who commit crime can have profound effects on all concerned. In cases where the manslaughter of a stranger occurs in a public place, the media coverage is widespread and affects the offender, the victim’s family, mental health services and even the care, treatment and legislation of all of those diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

This article will use the case of John Barrett, who murdered a stranger, Denis Finnegan, in a London park. It will demonstrate how, and attempt to understand why, media saturation occurs. A thematic analysis of newspaper coverage representing this case was undertaken with reference to existing literature, which provided three themes: the mentally disordered offender as ‘other’, the concept of blame and race.