Steve Hayden

A psychiatric inmate, David Hoyle, is the clear culprit in the fatal stabbing of a nurse at Blackhill Asylum. When Lawson and Dr. Blake arrive at the crime scene, Hoyle is having electro convulsive therapy. Still confused after the shock treatment, Hoyle tells Blake and Lawson he thinks he killed nurse Violet Ashby but cannot recall the incident. Lawson says Hoyle was found crouched near the body holding a large kitchen knife. However Dr. Blake is not convinced. A voluntary patient at the institution, Oriel Vogel, surprises Dr. Blake when she turns up unannounced at his surgery with a painting she's done of him. She has also done a moody portrait of David Hoyle, which interests Blake.