The trial of a Bradford man with autism who was accused of influencing a teenage girl to commit suicide concluded with closing statements.
After 14-year-old Gina Van Houten posted on the ForumJar website that she intended to commit suicide under the heading “Suicide pact Netherlands,” Christopher Ballard, 43, of Clayton Road, Bradford, a shift worker at a plastics plant, bombarded her with emails and WhatsApp messages.
On March 28, 2018, Gina, an Amsterdam resident, was discovered dead in her house.
Ballard’s defence attorney, Nick Johnson, read out positive character references from his parents on the third day of the trial at Bradford Crown Court.
According to his mother, Jacqueline Ballard, “Chris is a cheerful, carefree man, but he doesn’t have any close friends.” There is nothing wrong with him, even though he sometimes lose himself in his games.
Walter Ballard, his father, claimed that since his son dropped out of school at the age of sixteen, he has been “hard-working.”
“He spends hours playing computer games, but he would never do anything to hurt anyone,” he stated.
Judge Hon. Justice Mrs. Lambert DBE gave the jury instructions to weigh all the evidence, including that provided by forensic psychologist Dr. Harry Wood, who stated in his report that Ballard “suffers from autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” prior to hearing the closing arguments.
In his closing speech, prosecutor James Bourne-Arton KC told the jury: “Was he capable of encouraging Gina Van Houtey to commit suicide and did he intend for her to commit suicide based on those messages?
“Those messages certainly were not trying to stop Gina from committing suicide.
“He suggested suicide methods.
“If that doesn’t encourage someone to commit suicide, I don’t know what does. His intention was to encourage her.
“Do you believe it was role play? The (suicide pact) post was not on some fantasy website where you play games.
“Why start the conversation in the first place? Why speak about methods of suicide?
“I appreciate he is on the autism spectrum, but it doesn’t remove his capability of understanding.”
Addressing the reasons why Ballard lied to police in two interviews, Mr Bourne-Arton said: “He lied because he had no better explanation. He knew he was guilty. That’s what frightened him.”
In the defence’s closing speech, Mr Johnson said: “Ask yourself ‘why is autism relevant’? The underlying issue with ASD is that people with it are less likely to understand. He might miss signs in a conversation that you or I may notice.
“The defendant also has difficulty with social communication. He likes to role play rather than struggling with real life and trying to fit in.
“Mr Ballard wasn’t treating it as a genuine suicide pact. He was playing a character.”
“Nobody knew Gina was in such a place that she would do what she did.
“Chris also is of good character and no previous criminal convictions.
“Can you be sure he intended to encourage her to commit suicide? If not, the proper verdict is not guilty.”
The trial continues.
– Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information
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