Sheffield murder suspect absconded eight times, inquest told

The inquest was told that despite her repeated attempts to escape, Ms Borowy continued to be allowed periods of leave from hospital on a regular basis.

Dr Thomas said this was extended in a bid to reduce the frequency of her absconding.

“Patients don’t like to be detained against their will in hospital,” she said.

The decisions hospital staff made to continue discharging Ms Borowy “were very clearly thought through in relation to trying to manage somebody that would most likely be going back into the community,” Dr Thomas said.

“You can’t punish patients for going AWOL. It’s a constant balance between the fact that you are detaining patients against their will and working with them therapeutically to move forward to move out of hospital.

“We were struggling with a lady who didn’t want to conform to any of the work we were trying to do.”

Ms Borowy was charged with murder, but died in prison before she stood trial.

The inquest continues.

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