LONDON MAN DETAINED INDEFINITELY AFTER KILLING MOTHER IN HOUSE FIRE
A 36-year-old man named Joel Ellis has been detained indefinitely after confessing to his role in his mother’s death by deliberately setting fire to their flat in north London.In court, it was disclosed that Ellis had removed a smoke detector and poured petrol as an accelerant to ignite the fire on Mingard Walk, Islington, on 26 October.
His mother, Beatrice Yankson, aged 59, was rescued from the flames but later died from burns and inhaling toxic fumes.
Judge Richard Marks commented that Ellis was experiencing 'very significant symptoms' of mental illness at the time of the incident.
He suffered from hallucinations and paranoid delusions, believing he needed to burn himself to destroy his body, a mental health condition dating back to 2017.
The prosecution revealed that Ellis had purchased petrol two days before the incident, and that his mother had expressed fears of being harmed by him.
Police also recovered two Samurai swords, two knives, and a loaded blank-firing pistol from Ellis’s bedroom after the fire.
Ellis stated he intended to commit suicide and was unaware that his mother was present in the flat.
He faced charges of murder but admitted to manslaughter and arson.
Mental health experts confirmed he was suffering from depression and schizophrenia, which led the court to order his detention in a hospital without a set time limit.
