Son admits stabbing mother to death in 'frenzied' attack

A 32-year-old antheral has admitted stabbing his parent to decease successful a "frenzied" onslaught successful an Aberdeenshire town.

Jonathon Divers struck Elizabeth Watson, 58, astatine slightest 40 times astatine their location successful Peterhead's Catto Drive successful June 2023.

He was initially charged with execution but admitted the reduced complaint of culpable homicide. The High Court successful Glasgow was told that the plea was accepted connected the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Sentence was deferred pending inheritance reports until adjacent month.

Divers - who has learning difficulties - attacked his parent erstwhile she told him to permission the property.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar said: "Divers stabbed her repeatedly with a room weapon helium was carrying successful his waistband of his trousers."

A neighbour heard cries for assistance and recovered Ms Watson lying connected the level wherever determination was a ample magnitude of blood.

Police traced Divers to the bath wherever helium was recovered to beryllium smoking a cigarette. He said that helium did not cognize what had happened.

Mr McVicar added: "A pathologist stated determination were 40 sharp-force injuries to the head, cervix and back."

Donald Findlay KC, defending, told the court: "We tin beryllium satisfied that helium grasps what his presumption is.

"He is profoundly atrocious for what helium did and it has caused him a large woody of symptom and distress."

Sentence was deferred to the High Court successful Livingston by justice Andrew Cubie, who continued to detain Divers successful a authorities intelligence hospital.

The justice said: "This was a frenzied onslaught successful which you repeatedly stabbed her.

"It is disturbing a lad sidesplitting his mother, and determination is thing I tin accidental oregon bash that tin bespeak the enormity of this deed.

"The consequences of your diminished work mean you are incapable to negociate your emotions and support power - intoxicant had a apt impact."

He added: "You judge the decease of a much-loved partner, daughter, grandma who contributed to our assemblage done her friends, household and religion involvement."