Man who killed mother sentenced to indefinite hospital order

Christine Emmerson, 71, was found dead at her home in Kirk Close, West Ashby, on August 3 last year.

Shaun Emmerson, 51, was charged with murder, but was found not fit to stand trial by a judge after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by a number of doctors.

A jury at Lincoln Crown Court last week decided Mr Emmerson did carry out the act of killing his mother.

Judge Simon Hirst today (Tuesday) made an indefinite Section 41 hospital order on Mr Emmerson after hearing evidence from a qualified forensic psychiatrist.

Mr Emmerson followed the sentence hearing by video-link from the Arnold Lodge hospital, where he is detained, and spoke only to confirm his name.

Forensic scientist Dr Gareth Garrett told the hearing that he was recommending a restricted hospital order for Mr Emmerson and confirmed that he would be continued to be treated at Arnold Lodge.

The hospital order means Mr Emmerson will be detained in a mental hospital until he is deemed fit to be released, if that ever occurs.

Judge Hirst also commended the actions of two police officers, Sgt Connor Ingoldmells and PC Morgan Cobble, who were first on the scene of the killing.

"I was struck after hearing the evidence in the case about the professionalism of the officers," Judge Hirst said.

Judge Hirst also commended PC Emily Horton, who gave first aid at the scene, and the senior investigating officer, DC Cassie Knapp.

"This has been a difficult case," Judge Hirst said, emphasising he was also thankful for the dignity shown by Mr Emmerson's family, who attended court.

During the three day trial of facts, jurors heard that Mr Emmerson called 999 and threatened to jump from a conservatory roof after the killing his mother.

Christopher Donnellan KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mrs Emmerson was stabbed over 30 times with a pink handled kitchen knife and died from wounds to her neck.

Mr Donnellan argued the fact that Mr Emmerson was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia did not mean his account of the killing was unreliable.

“The Crown’s case is that what was said in that 999 call was reliable, and it was a reliable account because a person with delusional thoughts can say things accurately while suffering with delusions," Mr Donnellan insisted.

Dr Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination on Mrs Emmerson, said she would have “rapidly” lost consciousness from the injuries.

He said that stab wounds to her neck were the immediate cause of death.

A 999 call was played to the jury, who heard it was made by Mr Emmerson at about 12:30pm ,while he was on the roof.

Mr Emmerson told the call handler that he had stabbed his mother with a knife in a "violent attack" and left her in the living room.

When asked what had happened, he told the call handler that "everyone" was "going to kill" him and made reference to the "department of justice", the court heard.

When the call handler asked why, he replied: "Because they've been talking about it for the last 20 years."

Body-worn camera footage was played in court showing Mr Emmerson standing on a roof, with blood on his hands and on his white top.

A detention officer at Skegness Police Station, said Mr Emmerson had told her he "must be mental" to have done what he did.

"He said his mental health was bad. He suffered with depression and anxiety and that doctors wouldn't help him," she told the court.

When questioned by defence barrister Clive Stockwell KC, the mental health professional said Mr Emmerson "thought he could hear the neighbours through the wall saying they wanted to kill him".

A statement from Mrs Emmerson’s husband, David, was also read out in court. Mr Emmerson explained his son had stopped taking his medication in the second week of July.