Lifer accused of attacking female prison officers tells judge she was on his ‘hit list'

Sunday World

19-05-2025

Remanding Roy Kerr back into custody judge Rosie Watters adjourned the case to June and commented 'you get something different everyday but there you go.'
A triple would-be killer accused of assaulting two female prison officers told a judge today she should not hear his case because she was on his 'hit list.'
Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court by videolink from HMP Maghaberry and representing himself, Roy Kerr said that 'obviously' he is denying the three charges of common assault, alleged to have been committed against two female prison officers on 25 July last year.
A prosecuting lawyer suggested adjourning the case for two weeks 'to get availability' and to set a date for the contest.
Addressing Kerr, District Judge Rosie Watters told him given his situation 'the reality is that you're available all the time' but she advised him to instruct a solicitor.
'The last time I had a solicitor I ended up with three life sentences,' Kerr told the judge, revealing that he is set to have a parole hearing in September.
He told the judge he would also be applying for Judge Watters to recuse herself from hearing his case.
When asked why, Kerr told the judge that was on the basis of 'ill intent' in that 'when I was arrested in 2008 I was found to be in possession of a hit list and your name was on it.'
While Kerr claimed Judge Watters had been notified of the threat to her life at the time, she told the defendant 'no, I have never been notified of this.'
'This is the first time I have heard of any ill intent and I don't know why you have any,' the judge told him.
Remanding Kerr back into custody she adjourned the case to 2 June and commented 'you get something different everyday but there you go.'
Originally from Inverness, Kerr was handed three life sentences for three counts of attempted murder with a minimum tariff of ten years when he tried to kill Dr. Raymond White and his family in 2008.
Kerr had previously burgled their east Belfast home and the family were due to give evidence against the dangerous recidivist when, in the early hours of 8 May 2008, he set a wheelie bin against the door of the property, poured petrol through the letter box and set both on fire.
Thankfully the murderous arsonist burnt himself and it was his screams of pain which alerted the family and Kerr was arrested within the hour after he went to the Mater Hospital for treatment.
Roy Kerr
News in 90 Seconds - May 19th
Police enquiries also uncovered CCTV footage from a filling station at Ballyhackamore which had captured Kerr buying a petrol can, petrol and a lighter just a few hours before the incident.
Sentencing Kerr for trying to kill Dr. White and his family, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC said the Scot posed a "very real risk of causing serious harm to those whom he considers have crossed him in some way".
The judge also said that a doctor who had assessed Kerr had concluded a pre-sentence report by "stating that it was not possible to estimate the period of time he may remain a danger to the public".
Referring to the fact that Dr White took his own life before the case concluded, Judge Miller added that while Kerr's murder bid did not "provide the sole cause or explanation" for the doctor's death, he was satisfied that the family's perceived "personal vendetta against them had a direct and devastating effect not only on Dr White, but also on his wife and son".