Son found guilty of murdering his mother at home

MANSLAUGHTER PLEA IS NOT ACCEPTED BY JURY

- CARL EVE

A JURY has found a man guilty by a majority verdict of murdering his mother in Plymouth.

Callum Thomas, aged 33, has been told he will face a life sentence for the killing of Debra Cantrell.

During his trial at Plymouth Crown Court, the jury heard how Thomas had already admitted to her manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

However, prosecutors progressed with their case against Thomas, arguing that, when he killed his 58-year-old mother Debra Cantrell at her home in Colwill Road, Mainstone, he was of sound mind and knew what he was doing.

While the jury was initially told he was alleged to have fatally stabbed her some time between May 5 and May 31 last year, evidence suggested that he had more than likely murdered her some time after May 6 or May 7.

In her opening statement, prosecutor Anna Vigars KC revealed that, in the early hours of May 31, police were contacted by a computer gamer in the United States. The jury was told that the man explained he had spent a considerable amount of time playing World War Two games online with Thomas and they would have conversations, forming a kind of friendship.