MAN GUILTY OF KILLING MOTHER IN MENTAL HEALTH TRAGEDY
A man has been detained indefinitely after killing his mother while in the grip of "acute psychosis".Gavin Nash, 40, stabbed his 64-year-old mother Lynette multiple times with a kitchen knife at their shared home in Tansy Lane, Portishead, north Somerset, in June.
Nash, who has a schizoaffective disorder, was initially charged with murder but the prosecution accepted his plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
He was sentenced earlier at Bristol Crown Court and will be detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit.
Prosecutor Richard Posner noted that Nash had been considered a danger, with his family expressing concerns about his deteriorating mental health and seeking help.
Mrs Nash had called 999 the day before her death, describing her son as "out of control" and threatening towards them.
Two mental health team members assessed Nash on the day of the attack, expressing concerns about the danger he posed.
The fatal attack occurred later that afternoon after Nash fled the house.
Mrs Nash was attacked during a phone call to her husband, Stuart Nash, who listened as Gavin murdered his mother.
Nash later called police and stated, “I’ve murdered my mother.” He was quickly arrested.
Mrs Nash’s husband, Stuart Nash, expressed regret over missed opportunities to intervene and save her.
Nash, in a note to the judge, expressed remorse, saying, “I’m desperately sorry,” and reflected that his actions might have been different if he had remained on his medication.
He also stated, “I loved my mum,” emphasizing the tragedy of the loss.
The judge described the situation as “utterly tragic” and ordered Nash to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act, with the court acknowledging possible lessons to be learned from the events.
