A delusional son who stabbed his mother to death in Greater Manchester because he thought his parents were part of a ‘satanic paedophile’ ring has been given an indefinite hospital order.
Paranoid schizophrenic Matthew Brierley, 45, knifed psychotherapist Glennis Brierley, 64, the day after he moved back into her home in Littleborough, Greater Manchester.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Brierley had never been aggressive before but when he attacked his mother stabbed her four times in the chest and neck.
Just before midnight on December 14, Brierley rang 999 from a phone box asking for an ambulance to be sent to his mother’s address on saying ‘I’ve just killed somebody’.
Officers found the body of Mrs Brierley, a former art teacher and exhibiting painter who worked as a counsellor and psychotherapist.
When he was arrested he told officers that he had previously thought about killing both his mother and father and was ‘incredibly frightened’ of his mother.
He told police: “I just went for her. I threw her down and got the knife and stabbed her. I was aware I’d just stabbed my mother and I didn’t have any response to it.
“There was a part of me that believed you could murder somebody and it would be justified. It would feel OK. It would resolve the things that caused you to want to murder somebody.”
At court Brierley pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.
Raymond Wigglesworth QC, prosecuting, said: “It’s clear from the psychiatric history that over the years Matthew Brierley has harboured a number of delusional beliefs and one of those was that his parents were members of Satanic paedophile conspiracy.
“He claimed to be in fear of them.”
Andrew O’Byrne, for Brierley, said: “We all recognise the pain that the killing of Glennis Brierley has caused her family and those close to her. We recognise that that will not diminish for a number of years to come.
“Clearly this is a distressing and disturbing offence committed by a man who both experts agreed suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and has done for a considerable period of time.
“Matthew Brierley is clearly very distressed and moved by his mother’s death and very conflicted because he loved her and was unable to deal with the absolute and fixed belief that she was a monstrous satanic pervert who committed unspeakable abuse.
“The defendant is not prone to violence or a criminal lifestyle. For many years he has had a mental condition and against that backdrop he has committed the offence and culpability ought to be measured.”
Judge Michael Henshell said Ms Brierley had responded to her son’s needs when he lost the accommodation he was then living in, and by taking him into her own home she brought about the conflict which after a very short time resulted in her death.
Brierley pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his mother.
Judge Henshell said: “She died because he harboured delusional beliefs about her which were symptoms of schizophrenia.
“It is perfectly clear from medical history that his mental health in December last year was such that it was inevitable there would be conflict between him and his mother.
“Many arguments developed and resulted in him fatally stabbing her five times. The most serious wound was 17cm long. Mrs Brierley also had other injuries indicating she had struggled.
“The defendant called the emergency services and said he had killed someone. The contents of the phone call are indicative of someone with some form of psychosis.
“The seriousness of the offence coupled with the defendant’s continuing hostility and threatening behaviour mean a restriction order would be appropriate.
“The defendant’s anger and hostility were driven by his delusions. One professor said the defendant was largely blameless for his actions. His delusional state had robbed him of rational decision making.”
A family statement read outside court said thanked the police and the CPS for how ‘compassionate and considerate’ they have been during the investigation.
“While we do not want to comment on the circumstances of this case, as we are a very private family, this has been an extremely difficult time for all the family and we would just now like time to grieve,” the family said.
Senior Investigating Officer, Duncan Thorpe, added: “Glennis was a very popular and respected member of her local community and her death continues to be keenly felt, not just by her family and friends but also the people of Littleborough.
“For her to have been killed in her own home by her own son was as needless as it was absolutely tragic.”
Story via Cavendish Press
