CAMBORNE SON JAILED FOR MANSLAUGHTER OF ELDERLY FATHER IN VIOLENCE OUTBURST
A coroner has sent a prevention of deaths (PDR) report to the secretary of state after concluding that an 82- year-old pensioner was unlawfully killed by his own son.Steven Forster from Camborne was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter in 2022 after brutally attacking his elderly father Barrie Forster in an act of frustration about his own life.Steven Forster vented his anger by punching his 82-year-old father Barrie repeatedly around the face and head in an "outburst of violence".Mr Forster Senior sustained significant injuries during the attack at his Camborne home on November 20, 2020, and died in hospital a few days later.The jury at the trial concluded that the injuries inflicted during the assault were a direct cause of his father’s death.At an inquest into his death, Cornwall coroner Andrew Cox found that Barrie Forster had been unlawfully killed and issued the PDR after deciding his death could have been prevented.Mr Forster senior was living in a flat in Gurney Mews, Camborne at the time of the assault.
He had a number of medical conditions but lived an active and independent life.
Steven Forster had been released from prison a few days before, and his father allowed him to move in with him.On the day of the assault, the pair went into Camborne town center.
Steven Forster became difficult and aggressive with staff at a local bank after being unable to withdraw money due to a lack of identification or a bank card.
He took out his frustration by pulling down railings and banging on the bank window; this frustration later spilled into violence against his father.Barrie Forster was not happy and told his son that he should change his behaviour or he would get into more trouble.
When they returned to the flat, Steven Forster attacked his father as he sat in a chair in his bedroom.
It took Steven at least 30 minutes to call an ambulance.
When police and paramedics arrived, they found Mr Forster senior badly beaten with substantial bruising to his face, head, and neck.
He had also sustained a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone, and a serious ear injury due to the impact of the assault.His son admitted that he had struck his father repeatedly and was "just going nuts" during the attack.
Barrie Forster was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, where he died six days later on November 26, 2020.The court heard from prosecution medical experts that the assault was a significant cause of death, as it triggered internal bleeding from an existing condition.
Mr Cox recorded the cause of death as: 1a) Multi-organ failure.
1b) Acute Upper Gastro-Intestinal Haemorrhage in a Man with Ischaemic Heart Disease and on Treatment with Apixaban; Craniofacial Trauma Necessitating Surgical Repair.He said Forster Jr had been released from custody two days earlier and had recently had three spells in custody, the last two sentences having been imposed after offenses against his sister who had a Restraining Order.He found the risk Forster posed to Barrie had not been assessed properly or at all by the Probation Service, especially considering a complaint of sexual assault by Barrie against another family member and recent assaults against other family members.Additionally, no adequate assessment was made of the suitability of Barrie’s address for Forster after his release.
Forth had been in approved premises for six months after an earlier release but was homeless afterward, living in tents.
On the day of his release, it was known he planned to sleep on the sofa at his father’s home, but the suitability of the accommodation was not considered.The coroner expressed concern about the lack of accommodation available for prisoners upon release, which increased the risk of reoffending and death.
He stated that if proper risk assessments had been done, the assault might have been avoided and warned that future deaths could occur without intervention.
The situation highlights systemic issues with housing and supervision for released prisoners, especially those with previous violent or criminal behavior.
