Family of elderly woman killed by son in the Cotswolds call for Government action
They want more to be done to address the issue of matricide
Last updated 11th Jul 2023
The family of a "dedicated and caring" mother who was killed by her mentally ill son have called on the UK Government to do more to address the issue of matricide.
Beatrice Corry, 84, died after being attacked by her son Matthew Corry at her home in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.
Police and paramedics discovered Mrs Corry inside her apartment on Chipping Campden High Street at around 12.10am on January 6 and despite attempts to save her, she was pronounced dead soon after.
After initially denying her murder, 46-year-old Corry, who had also lived at the address, pleaded guilty to manslaughter this month and was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act on Monday.
In a statement issued after sentencing, the Corry family said: "We have learnt, whilst going through this horrific experience, that every year around 100 people in this country are killed by people with mental health problems.
"Often, these people are mothers, killed by their sons for whom they are caring.
"We urge this government to invest more resources into addressing this often overlooked homicide and to do more to prevent other families in the future going through such an awful, awful experience and to prevent other loving mothers, so often alone and vulnerable, from dying in this way."
They described Mrs Corry as an "utterly dedicated, caring, fun-loving and dynamic mother and grandmother".
"She will be so, so missed by her children, grandchildren and the community of Chipping Campden. We all loved her very much," they added.
"We would like to thank the police very much for all the support that they have given us throughout this time and we would ask that our families now be left in privacy to grieve this horrendous loss and to try to rebuild our lives."
Corry will receive treatment at a psychiatric hospital and Section 41 restrictions imposed by a judge at Bristol Crown Court mean he will only be released with the consent of the Secretary of State for Justice.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher, from Gloucestershire Police Major Crime Investigation Unit, said: "The death of Beatrice at the hands of her son is incredibly tragic for the Corry family.
"I welcome the sentencing as it means Matthew Corry will be in a high-security hospital receiving the appropriate support that he requires.
"My thoughts and condolences remain with Beatrice's family, friends and the residents of Chipping Campden as they continue to come to terms with what happened."