A WOMAN was today (19) sentenced to an indefinite hospital order following the death of Stefan Melnyk in Acton last March.

Rhian Beresford, 29, of Hope Gardens, Acton, W3, had previously admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

She was sentenced at the Old Bailey.

Stefan died from injuries sustained in a serious road accident in Salisbury Street, Acton.

Beresford also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a second man who was attacked with a knife in the same incident.

Pleas of not guilty to the murder of Stefan and the attempted murder of the second victim were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Stefan Melnyk, 54, sustained serious injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital, where he died the next day.

Another man, aged 39, was attacked with a knife and received injuries to his hand following the collision.

Beresford, who had been driving the car that struck Stefan, was initially arrested for attempted murder before later being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Det Insp Garth Hall said: “This is a case where it is accepted severe mental ill health was a key factor.

“While this may go some way to accounting for the events of that day, it nonetheless remains a tragic incident.”