MOTHER'S DAY MURDERER JOHN CHARLES COBURN FACES LIFE SENTENCE
A man with paranoid schizophrenia who carried out a brutal stabbing attack on his mother has been told that he might never be released from prison.During court proceedings at Antrim Crown Court, it was revealed that John Charles Coburn inflicted fatal stab wounds on his mother at her home in Kells and Connor on April 3, 2011, a day that coincided with Mother’s Day.
Coburn pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The judge, Mr.
Justice Burgess, imposed an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of five years.
He highlighted that this sentence is essentially equivalent to a life sentence, noting that although Coburn, who has a university education, might never be freed, he would remain under license if the Parole Commissioners deemed release appropriate.
The court also noted that Coburn continues to believe he hears his mother Lynn communicating with him through the television.
The attack also resulted in injuries to his brother, Andrew, who is 32 years old and left the scene to find help.
The court described Mrs.
Coburn’s injuries as "horrific" and acknowledged Coburn’s history of mental health issues, including paranoid schizophrenia, with difficulties in engaging with psychiatric care and managing medication.
His past substance abuse was also mentioned.
Medical evaluations confirmed that Coburn was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack and posed a serious risk to public safety.
