Woman found not guilty of mother's murder in Grays
She will be sentenced for manslaughter by diminished responsibility though
Last updated 3rd Mar 2022
A woman's been found not guilty of murder after killing her Mum in Grays last summer.
Cheryl Banks who's 60 and from Lenmore Avenue had previously admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility, which she will now be sentenced for on April 1st.
Police found 89 year-old Winifred Grover unresponsive in the house she shared with her daughter and other family members on the 21st June last year.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prior to officers arriving at the address Banks has told members of her family that she had killed her mother.
A forensic post-mortem found that the likely cause of death was smothering.
In a prepared statement to officers, Banks stated that she had experienced mental health problems for some time and that she loved her mother very much.
Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court she was today (Tuesday 1st March) found not guilty of murder.
However, she had already submitted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility so has been convicted of that offence.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Kevin Hughes, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This is a truly tragic case and one that has really saddened me and my team.
“Winifred Grover was an elderly woman in need of constant care.
"I want to extend my condolences, and those of my team, to her family."