PETERHEAD MAN ADMITS TO FRENZIED KNIFE ATTACK THAT KILLED HIS MOTHER
A man from Peterhead, Jonathon Divers, 32, has admitted to murdering his mother, Elizabeth Watson, 58, in a brutal knife attack at their home.Divers, who was previously incarcerated at age 17 for stabbing a stranger, struck Elizabeth at least 40 times on June 27, 2023.
The incident occurred after an argument where Elizabeth, a churchgoer, expressed concerns about Divers's alcohol intake.
Divers, who argued with Elizabeth after she raised her concerns about his alcohol consumption, went on to attack her with a kitchen knife kept in his waistband.
Elizabeth was found lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with a neighbor hearing her cry for help.
Divers was in a rage and had blood on his face when police arrived.
He was found smoking a cigarette in the bathroom with an injury to his hand.
Forensic evidence revealed that Elizabeth suffered 40 sharp force injuries to her head, neck, and back, and her jugular vein was also severed.
She had defensive injuries on her right hand.
Divers pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, with the plea accepted under diminished responsibility.
The case was heard at the High Court in Glasgow, where the judge described the attack as frenzied and noted the disturbing nature of a son killing his mother.
Her family described Elizabeth as a much-loved mother and grandmother who contributed significantly to her community.
Divers’s defense highlighted his remorse and psychological state, with sentencing deferred for background reports, and Divers being detained in a mental health hospital.
Previously, Divers had a history of violence, including a stabbing at age 17 meant to understand how it felt to kill, which left his victim with permanent scars.
The court and community have mourned her loss, with tributes from local pastors and officials expressing grief over her tragic death.
