NURSE ACCUSED OF KILLING HER MOTHER WITH CERAMIC HORSE IN SUNDERLAND COURT
A nurse named Jennifer Shelton, aged 56, was accused of murdering her elderly mother, Bertha Martin, aged 84, by hitting her over the head with a ceramic horse, a court heard.The incident occurred on 17 June of the previous year.
The victim died from a brain haemorrhage one week later at South Tyneside general hospital.
A postmortem examination revealed that Martin, who was battling leukaemia, had sustained a head injury consistent with the shape of the ceramic horse's back hoof, which had been broken and later hidden inside a sewing basket in the house shared by Shelton and her mother.
Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald stated that "Bertha Martin was killed by the consequences of a blow to the head delivered by her daughter, Jennifer Shelton," explaining that the injury matched the forceful contact with the pottery horse.
Shelton, who denies murder, appeared distressed during the court proceedings and collapsed in the dock when the case was read out.
She reportedly admitted guilt after hospital admission, saying, "My mother is dying; my mother will never forgive me.
God will never forgive me," and a note found in the house read, "Dear Mam, forgive me." The trial is ongoing.
