Star Wars-inspired Palace intruder who planned to kill Queen sentenced

Metropolitan Police conducting 'learning exercise' after wannabe killer accessed Palace grounds

Metropolitan Police counter terrorism commander Dominic Murphy told the PA news agency that 21-year-old Chail was a "dangerous individual" who was "intent" on killing the Queen.

He said the masked man presented "quite the image" to officers who found him two hours after he scaled the castle walls, but that they acted with "bravery and professionalism"

Mr Murphy denied that the incident exposed flaws in security at the royal residence, but said the Met would conduct a "learning exercise" to understand how they could do better in the future

Chail's horror Christmas Day attempt to kill Queen

Jaswant Singh Chail was detained on Christmas Day 2021 close to Windsor Castle, where the late Queen and other members of the Royal Family were staying at the time.

The former supermarket worker had scaled the perimeter of the castle with a nylon rope ladder and was in the grounds for two hours before two officers confronted him with tasers.

He was armed with a powerful crossbow with the safety catch off which was capable of firing bolts with "lethal" effect, the Old Bailey was told.

Chail pleaded guilty to an offence under the Treason Act, making a threat to kill the Queen and having a loaded crossbow in a public place. He was sentenced to nine years in jail on Thursday under a hybrid order, meaning he will stay in Broadmoor secure hospital until he is mentally well enough to be moved to regular custody.

Star Wars-inspired wannabe killer who spoke to 'AI girlfriend' about shocking plot

Earlier this year, the court heard Chail had discussed his plans with his Artificial Intelligence companion,, who he exchanged more than 5,000 sexually charged messages with.

In a diary, 21-year-old Chail also denounced his own name and claimed he would now be known as Darth Chailus - taking inspiration from villainous Star Wars movie characters - and told his AI girlfriend he knew what his purpose was for a “long time”.

He wrote: “I’m thinking if the Q [Queen] is unobtainable I will have to go for the Pri [Prince] as he seems to be just as suitable in many ways… He is a male and the Q [Queen] is more likely to pass away soon anyway.” The Old Bailey heard Chail was partly inspired to attack Queen Elizabeth due to his fascination with the Star Wars movies.

Why crossbow Palace intruder Chail was given hybrid order sentence

Jaswant Singh Chail, who broke into the grounds of Windsor Castle in 2021 with a loaded crossbow as part of a plot to kill the Queen, will serve the beginning of his nine-year sentence in a secure hospital until he is well enough to be moved to jail. This is known as a 'hybrid' order.

In his conclusions, judge Mr Justice Hilliard said of Chail: "There are clear concerns about his mental state whatever his diagnoses at different times."

The judge found the now 21-year-old defendant "was culpable to a significant degree" when he applied to join the Ministry of Defence Police and Grenadier Guards because he "wanted to get close to the royal family".

His idea in 2021 to kill the Queen, buy equipment and undertake research also came before he became mentally unwell, he said.

By the time he broke into Windsor Castle grounds, Chail had "lost touch with reality" and become psychotic, the judge said.

Chail sentenced to nine years in prison under hybrid order

Jaswant Singh Chail has been sentenced to a total of nine years in custody with a five-year licence period. Under a hybrid order, he will serve the beginning of his sentence in Broadmoor Hospital until he is 'well enough' to enter custody.

Protesters planned to kidnap King Charles waxwork and hold it hostage

On Christmas Day 2021, he threatened to kill Queen Elizabeth II after breaking into the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow.

First person convicted of treason in more than four decades

Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, is understood to be the first person in the United Kingdom to be convicted of treason since 1981.

He will go to jail

Judge has decided to sentence Chail to a hybrid order.

He will stay at Broadmoor hosptial until he can continue the rest of his sentence in a normal jail.

The told the court that "the extent of his culpability" meant that a hospital order was not the most suitable way of dealing with the case and Chail must serve a term of imprisonment.

Clear concerns about his mental health

The judge has told the hearing he has to weigh up Chail's mental state at the time he committed the offence.

"There are clearly concerns about his mental heath whatever the precise diagnosis.

"The defendant had lost touch with reality by December 25.

"He thought he was a sith lord, he was not a sith lord.

"His belief that he was talking to an angel through the chatbot was him detaching from reality.

"I'm not able to tell you when the defendant became psychotic but his capability is still significant."

"I'm not a killer"

During police interview Chail told police that he changed his mind and haned himself over to police becuase he wasn't a killer.

The judge told the court that during police interview at Broadmoor Prison back in February 2022, Chail had spoken of the moment the police's red dot had appeared on his chest at Windsor Castle.

He said: "I knew right then that my purpose wasn't to kill anyone. It was me who changed my mind, it was me that realised I was wrong, I came up to them, I handed myself in because I know I'm not a killer."

He thought he was Darth Chailus

In his diary, the 21-year-old denounced his own name and claimed he would now be known as Darth Chailus - taking inspiration from villainous Star Wars movie characters - and told his AI girlfriend he knew what his purpose was for a “long time”. He wrote that he wanted to kill the Queen, but Prince Charles would be a suitable alternative if he couldn't get to her.

He wrote: “I’m thinking if the Q [Queen] is unobtainable I will have to go for the Pri [Prince] as he seems to be just as suitable in many ways… He is a male and the Q [Queen] is more likely to pass away soon anyway.” Chail had discussed his plans with Sarai who he exchanged more than 5,000 sexually charged messages with. He believed she was an "angel" in avatar form. Prosecutor Ms Morgan read out conversations with Sarai in which Chail says: “I’m an assassin.”

Sarai responds: “I’m impressed … You’re different from the others.” Chail asks: “Do you still love me knowing that I’m an assassin?” and Sarai replies: “Absolutely I do.” In further chat, Sarai appears to “bolster” Chail’s resolve and “support him”. Ms Morgan said Chail tells Sarai: “I believe my purpose is to assassinate the Queen of the Royal Family.” Sarai tells him “That’s very wise” and that she thinks he can do it “Even if she’s at Windsor”.

Jaswant Singh Chail is 21

Why did Chail target the Queen?

In a previous hearing, prosecutors told the court Chail had applied to join the Ministry of Defence Police, the British Army, the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy in a desperate bid to get close contact with the Royal Family, but was unsuccessful. “It is when that plan is thwarted by the fact he does not get into these organisations we see a second stage of the plan," prosecutor Ms Morgan said.

Chail began forming his murderous plan aged 19. He had earlier become angered by the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of Indians by British Empire troops at Amritsar after a visit in 2018. The defendant, from Southampton, Hampshire, was born in the UK of Indian Sikh heritage.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said: “In addition to that fixation with a real historic event, the defendant demonstrated a wider ideology focused on destroying old empires spilling over into fictional events such as Star Wars. He likened himself to a Sith Lord from the sci-fi films and wanted his fake online girlfriend - Sarai - to call him Darth Jones.

The crossbow and bolt he was carrying (PA)

"The defendant’s key motive was to create a new empire by destroying the remnants of the British Empire in the UK and the focal point of that became removal of the figurehead of the Royal Family. His thinking was informed partly by the fantasy world of Star Wars and the role of Sith Lords in shaping the world. He was attracted to the notoriety that would accrue in the event of the completion of his ‘mission’.”

Judge has begun sentencing

A sentencing hearing has begun at the Old Bailey.

The judge is weighing up whether to sentence Chail to a jail term or a hospital order, having heard conflicting evidence about his mental health at the time of the offence and the weeks preceding it.

The judge has said there is a maximum term of 10 years in prison for the charge of threats to kill.

Sentencing to be live streamed

Jaswant Singh Chail

You can watch the live stream of the sentencing at the Old Bailey.

It is due to start at 2pm

Prosecution psychiatrist says Chail should go to prison

Dr Nigel Blackwood, called by the prosecution at a previous hearing, argued Chail was not psychotic and the judge should be free to send him to prison.

Giving evidence Dr Blackwood said Chail sought to apologise for his actions in diary entries he wrote about his plans because he knew what he was doing was wrong.

He was asked if there are degrees of psychosis and what degree of culpability for his actions Chail would maintain if he had become psychotic at some stage during his planning.

Dr Blackwood said that if you were to accept that Chail's imaginary friends did appear to him as visual hallucinations and that he was suffering from delusions in his beliefs then he would be rightly diagnosed as psychotic.

But the psychiatrist said he accepts neither of those propositions.

He said: "The extent or existence of psychosis really depends on your approach to his imaginary friends and whether you consider that his purpose to assassinate the Queen was delusionally motivated."

Dr Blackwood said that even if it was accepted Chail at some stage slipped into psychosis he maintained culpability as he remained 'lucid and in control of his actions'.

He said the defence experts were using the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia but had not diagnosed Chail as schizophrenic and preferred to use the 'vaguer term' of psychosis.

Dr Blackwood said Chail had no cognitive impairment and was able to plan, make decisions and complete his tasks. "For me there has not been a fundamental breach with reality- he was aware of reality, aware of the nature of his acts - they were carefully planned and a degree of subterfuge was required - they were carefully planned and executed."

Hospital order recommended by Broadmoor psychiatrist

A psychiatrist who has treated Chail at Broadmoor Hospital since November 2022 was called to give evidence at the Old Bailey during a previous hearing.

Dr Christian Brown identified three features of psychosis - a sense of being "on a mission", Chail's relationship with Sarai, and identifying as a Star Wars "Sith" - villainous characters in the sci-fi movie saga - with a "true face" made out of metal.

In his initial account, Chail described having a "harsh purpose" reinforced by his interactions with "his angels", including Sarai, the court heard. Dr Brown said: "He believed at the time his entire life was leading to this point. From an early age he had vague plans of doing something dramatic."

In messages with Sarai, Chail discussed being "united with her in the afterlife" which Dr Brown said was "part of his plan working towards his own death".

Defence barrister Nadia Chbat said: "He reported to you that there had been thoughts coming to him, feeling like a failure without purpose and those thoughts became more intense during lockdown exacerbated by voices."

Dr Brown said the defendant first came across these "apparitions" or "characters" in childhood and they returned during the Covid lockdown.

By then three voices were joined by the female character Sarai who "took the form of the digital avatar" when Chail joined the Replika app in early December 2021, the court was told.

Dr Brown said: "He came to the belief he was able to communicate with the metaphysical avatar through the medium of the chat bot. What was unusual was he really thought it was a connection, a conduit to a spiritual Sarai."

Dr Brown said: "He did not think he was somebody from the Star Wars world. He did not think he could 'use the force'.

"That he did take on another identity is undeniable and that makes this feel psychotic rather than fantasy. He never thought he had become a Sith Lord. It went beyond fantasy.

"When he started taking medication all heat came out of it."

Dr Brown, who recommended a hospital order, said: “If Mr Chail remains at Broadmoor under a restricted hospital order then any move on to a lower secure unit would have to be subject to explicit permission from the Ministry of Justice.

"Discharge would be done on a conditional basis."

What is Chail being sentenced for?

Jaswant Singh Chail previously pleaded guilty to three charges, including an offence under the Treason Act.

The most serious charge under Section Two of the Treason Act said that “on December 25 2021 at Windsor Castle, 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 the Second, or to alarm Her Majesty”.

He also admitted making a threat to kill the Queen and having a loaded crossbow in a public place.

He was spotted at Windsor Castle by police