Man 'stabbed his mother to death in farmhouse in frenzied attack while mental health staff waited outside'

A son stabbed his mother to death in her countryside farmhouse while mental health doctors waited outside the property, a court heard.

John Anderson Griffiths was invited to stay at his 87-year-old mother Joyce's home so she could take care of him.

But after his family arranged for mental health teams to look after him, the 58-year-old launched a "frenzied" attack on his mother, leaving her with at least 50 injuries to her face, four stab wounds to her neck and injuries to her chest, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard.

Griffiths, of Brecon, has been made the subject of a hospital order without a time limit under the mental health act, after pleading to guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

Judge Mr Justice Griffiths said he showed a "lack of insight to his condition" and posed a "high risk" to the public due to his previous failure to take medication.

Margaret Joyce Griffiths, known locally as Joyce, was found injured at the property in the village of Llanfrynach, in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, in August 2022.

The court heard the widow was airlifted to hospital but died the following day in hospital.

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Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court that her son had left home at around the age of 16 but went back to live with his mother in 2020 following the breakdown of his marriage.

The court heard Griffiths called 999 at 9.30pm in August last year to say he had attacked his mother - an attack the court heard her family thought was "triggered" by a mental health team.

The prosecutor said: "The defendant said his mother was trying to get him sectioned so he stabbed her in the eyes."

She said repeated calls had been made made to the team over concerns about Griffiths' "deteriorating mental health" in the weeks before the attack, including sending "bizarre and delusional emails" to his brother.

A three-hour assessment was carried out at the home but Griffiths was deemed not to pose a risk to himself or others during the assessment and could be dealt with in the community.

Rees said: "On August 23 or 24 his brother received an email making reference to Joyce Griffiths being threatened by the defendant having a knife.

"On August 25 Richard Griffiths received another bizarre, angry and hostile email from the defendant."

It was decided the following day that Griffiths should be admitted to hospital as an inpatient due to his "delusions and paranoia", the court heard.

Arrangements were made for the mental health team to meet outside the farmhouse at 9.30pm - the same time the attack took place.

The prosecutor said: "Police officers attended the house. The mental health assessment team were waiting outside, waiting to meet."

In a victim impact statement, the family said her death "could have been prevented" after Griffiths was visited by "young and inexperienced" mental health professionals.

They said: "The fact three mental health professional turned up at night in the dark after informing them they were coming.

"There is no doubt in the family's minds that the frenzied attack that night was triggered by the mental health team."

Daughter Sally, on behalf of the family, said: "We never in our wildest nightmares imagined John was capable of such a heinous act.

"The injuries that he inflicted that night will tragically be with us for the rest of our lives."