Man who killed Sir Richard Sutton sentenced to life in prison
Thomas Schreiber, 35, also attempted to kill his own mother
An artist found guilty of the murder of millionaire hotelier Sir Richard Sutton and the attempted murder of his own mother was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 36 years.
Thomas Schreiber, 35, was found guilty on 17th December following a three-week trial at Winchester Crown Court of stabbing the pair at the baronet's country estate near Gillingham in Dorset.
Ms Schreiber suffered up to 15 separate injuries on her head and body, including a partially severed spinal cord which has left her paralysed.
Sir Richard suffered three deep wounds to his face and five to his chest, up to 12cm deep.
Sentencing Schreiber, the judge Mr Justice Garnham told him: “Your actions have caused utter devastation in the Sutton and Schreiber families.”
He added: “You treated Sir Richard’s house and possessions as if they were your own.
“You showed neither him or your mother any respect, instead during your time in their home you displayed a breath-taking sense of entitlement, at times you left Sir Richard feeling like a prisoner in his own home.
“You are a man with a very bad temper.”
Lockdown
The defendant blamed lockdown for worsening his mental health by forcing him to remain in the "toxic pressure boiler" environment of Sir Richard's estate.
Schreiber had also pleaded guilty to driving a Range Rover dangerously on the A303, A4 and M3 when he failed to stop for armed police in a 135mph pursuit into central London.
As he was detained in Chiswick, the defendant stabbed himself in the chest and told officers: "Please kill me now, please just shoot me."
The trial has heard the defendant was angry with his mother for "abandoning" his father, who suffered from depression, to move in with Sir Richard.
Schreiber, an aspiring painter, also felt Sir Richard treated him unfairly compared to his two sisters despite him receiving a £1,000 monthly allowance and £100,000 towards buying a house.
The court heard family arguments descended into violence on three previous occasions, including once when Sir Richard hit the defendant with his walking stick in November 2020. It caused the cane to shatter and left Schreiber "humiliated".