Mystery remains over Pangbourne fatal stabbing
An inquest has heard how Maya Bracken was stabbed to death by her 18-year-old son Julian at the start of the year
Last updated 3rd Dec 2024
An inquest has heard how a mother was stabbed to death four days into 2024 as she drove her 18-year-old son back to Radley college in Abingdon.
Maya Bracken had just pulled out of her driveway in Flowers Hill at Pangbourne when her son knifed her. Her car rolled into the busy A340 Tidmarsh Road. First reports thought it was a car crash but as people rushed to the car they realised her injuries were not caused by a collision.
The inquest revealed that a witness had seen her son Julian get out of the car with a knife in his hand and start walking towards Pangbourne railway station. CCTV pictures confirmed he arrived at the station and was hit by a train. Four minutes after British Transport Police called for back up at 1817 his mother was declared dead at the scene of the stabbing.
The inquest heard written evidence from a south central ambulance paramedic - he told how ten days earlier on Christmas Day he'd attended the family house to find Julian on the kitchen floor where he'd collapsed from a severe anxiety attack. The paramedic said he didn't find out what caused it but it was clear there was tension between Julian and his mother. At one point Julian muttered 'F***king mum'. His brother and sister had also asked his mother to leave the kitchen because her presence was upsetting him.
A day later Julian, who had no record of mental health or drug problems, put in a request for help to the Berkshire talking therapy service. He died before they were able to support him.
Ten days after his anxiety attack he killed his mother, but Thames Valley Police said they'd found no evidence to explain why he did it.
The senior coroner for Berkshire Heidi Connor recorded a verdict of suicide on Julian and unlawful killing on his mother Maya. She described it as 'immensely tragic'.
Thames Valley Police Detective Inspector Stuart May confirmed that if Julian had survived he'd have faced a manslaughter or murder charge.