ERDINGTON MAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL ATTACK THAT KILLED MOTHER
A SON who killed his cancer-stricken mother in a “brutal” hammer attack at her Birmingham home has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.David Patterson, of Glenville Drive, Erdington, was convicted of her manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court.
The court heard that he was helping his 72-year-old mother, Sheila Patterson, who had a number of medical issues including a pulmonary embolism and pancreatic cancer.
On June 7 of the previous year, he fetched a hammer from a garage and struck his mother at least 20 times while she reached out for him, before calling 999.
When talking with the operator, he said he “just could not cope” with his mother’s illness.
Mrs.
Patterson was still alive when police arrived and was taken to hospital, where she later died from severe head injuries.
Judge William Davis QC highlighted the brutality of the attack, noting Patterson struck his mother multiple times and that she was left dying while he called the police, rather than being put out of her misery.
The judge mentioned that Sheila Patterson lived with health issues, including pancreatic cancer, and that her son’s attack was unplanned but deeply remorseful.
Patterson admitted to the court that his mind had been in turmoil before carrying out the attack and expressed remorse and shame.
His defense argued that he had a long history of depression, but was driven to violence due to the “unusual circumstances”.
Detective Inspector Martin Hurcombe stated that this was a tragic incident that deeply affected Mrs.
Patterson’s family, friends, and community, and expressed gratitude for their support during the investigation.
The court was told that Patterson, when taken away, was shouted abuse at by a niece of the victim.
