Sittingbourne man admits manslaughter of grandmother, 85

SITTINGBOURNE MAN ADMITS MANSLAUGHTER OF GRANDMOTHER, 85

Stuart Lay, aged 44 and a resident of Homewood Avenue in Sittingbourne, Kent, has admitted to killing his 85-year-old grandmother, Jean Robertson.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter after initially denying the charge of murder, and this plea was accepted by the court during a session at Maidstone Crown Court.

Due to concerns around his mental health and the circumstances of the case, he was sentenced to indefinite detention in a secure hospital.

Mrs Robertson died as a result of injuries she sustained during the incident when she was overpowered by Lay at her home on Rectory Road.

Police reports indicated that Lay visited his grandmother intending to ask her to store belongings in her shed but became aggressive instead.

He struck her multiple times with a stool, knocking her to the ground, continued the assault, and then contacted emergency services.

The court was informed that the attack was unprovoked and that Lay’s behavior changed during the visit, ultimately leading to her death.

The incident took place in November of the previous year.

Detective Inspector Ivan Beasley described the event as a tragic and unprovoked act of violence, noting that Lay was now detained in a secure facility for both public safety and his own mental health treatment.

Although Lay was initially charged with murder, he was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, leading to an order for his indefinite detention under the Mental Health Act, highlighting the seriousness of the case and his mental health condition.