FORMER SOLDIER JAILED FOR MURDERING MOTHER IN NORTH LONDON
Criston Preddie, aged 29 and a former member of the British military, carried out a violent murder at his residence in north London on 28 September last year.He repeatedly stabbed his mother, Arlene Williams, who was 46 years old, targeting her neck, chest, and stomach.
The assault was so intense that the tip of the weapon became lodged in Ms Williams’ neck, as detailed in court records.
Preddie had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
After the attack, he contacted emergency services, confessing that he had just killed his mother.
During legal proceedings, Preddie claimed to have served with the Royal Engineers in Germany and Afghanistan, asserting that he had killed 100 people during his service, and argued that he stabbed his mother to prevent her from poisoning him.
However, investigations later showed he had never been deployed in Afghanistan, and there was no evidence to substantiate his poisoning claim.
At the time of the killing, he was diagnosed with paranoid and persecutory delusions.
The court subsequently ordered his indefinite detention in a hospital for mental health treatment.
