Son who murdered mother in Carrutherstown ordered to high security psychiatric hospital

SON WHO MURDERED MOTHER IN CARRUTHERSTOWN ORDERED TO HIGH SECURITY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

James Standing, aged 36, was found guilty of the murder of his mother, Beverly Bliss, aged 52, at her home in Carrutherstown shortly before Christmas last year.

Although initially charged with murder, he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility, indicating he was experiencing an 'abnormality of the mind' at the time of the incident.

The court was told that he attacked Ms.

Bliss by repeatedly hitting her with a knife and punching her, which resulted in her being found with a knife lodged in her neck.

Standing acknowledged his involvement in the attack, and Judge Lord Beckett ordered that he be detained in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

The court also highlighted that Standing had a history of trauma, including the death of his young son in 2015, and was experiencing delusional beliefs during the commission of the crime.

Following the murder, he also assaulted his mother’s partner, Gavin Robertson, inflicting serious wounds and disfigurement.

The judge emphasized that his mental health condition played a significant role in the offense and required his confinement in a secure psychiatric facility.