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Coventry son held for killing mother in 'milky tea row' | Coventry son held for killing mother in 'milky tea row' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A mentally-ill man who killed his mother and told police it was after a row over the amount of milk in her tea has been detained indefinitely. | |
Thomas Westwood, 47, inflicted nine stab wounds using "severe" force on Susan Westwood, 68, at their Coventry home, Warwick Crown Court heard. | Thomas Westwood, 47, inflicted nine stab wounds using "severe" force on Susan Westwood, 68, at their Coventry home, Warwick Crown Court heard. |
He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility last year. | He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility last year. |
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said he had been driven by anger, and had "torn apart" the lives of his family. | Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said he had been driven by anger, and had "torn apart" the lives of his family. |
Passing sentence over a video-link to a secure mental health unit, he made Westwood the subject of an indefinite hospital order. He also sentenced him to a 16-year prison term with an extended licence period of five years. | Passing sentence over a video-link to a secure mental health unit, he made Westwood the subject of an indefinite hospital order. He also sentenced him to a 16-year prison term with an extended licence period of five years. |
After the attack in December 2017, Westwood told a police officer his mother threatened him with a knife because her tea "wasn't milky enough". | After the attack in December 2017, Westwood told a police officer his mother threatened him with a knife because her tea "wasn't milky enough". |
But prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith QC said the knife claim was believed to be a symptom of his mental illness. | But prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith QC said the knife claim was believed to be a symptom of his mental illness. |
Mr Grieves-Smith said Westwood had later asked to speak to a solicitor while on remand in prison, when he admitted he had not acted in self-defence and expressed regret. | Mr Grieves-Smith said Westwood had later asked to speak to a solicitor while on remand in prison, when he admitted he had not acted in self-defence and expressed regret. |
Westwood had mental health problems since the 1980s and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. | Westwood had mental health problems since the 1980s and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. |
He slept on the sofa at the one-bedroom home in Cavendish Road, Tile Hill, and his mother did all she could to support him, the court heard. | He slept on the sofa at the one-bedroom home in Cavendish Road, Tile Hill, and his mother did all she could to support him, the court heard. |
He was seen by a neighbour in an agitated state shortly before the attack. | He was seen by a neighbour in an agitated state shortly before the attack. |
Judge Lockhart ruled his condition was not the sole cause of the offence but had affected his ability to control his anger. | Judge Lockhart ruled his condition was not the sole cause of the offence but had affected his ability to control his anger. |
"I am clear that whilst you have long-standing mental health problems, you felt great anger towards your mother - anger was the primary and driving reason why you killed her," he said. | "I am clear that whilst you have long-standing mental health problems, you felt great anger towards your mother - anger was the primary and driving reason why you killed her," he said. |
He said Westwood had told "deliberate untruths" about his mother. | He said Westwood had told "deliberate untruths" about his mother. |
"There is no reason at all why she would ever attack you. This case is a tragedy for all involved," he said. | "There is no reason at all why she would ever attack you. This case is a tragedy for all involved," he said. |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |
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