A Hereford man has been sentenced to a hospital order following a 'trial of fact' in relation to the death of his mother.
Officers were called to Roman Road in Hereford at around 5.55pm on 9 January following a report of a collision involving a van and a man. The man - Jason Nellist - was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
When officers went to inform his mother - 59-year-old Julie Clark - about the collision and his condition a few hours later, they found her body at a property in Highmore Street with multiple stab wounds. Knives were also recovered from the property.
Following his release from hospital, Nellist, 40, of Nicholson Court, Hereford was arrested and charged with causing Julie's death.
Nellist was subsequently re-admitted to hospital after being charged but was later ruled mentally unfit to enter a plea and stand trial in the normal way.
Following a 'trial of fact' at Birmingham Crown Court, a jury was asked to decide whether he 'did the act alleged', which he was unanimously found to have done.
He was sentenced to a hospital order on Thursday (29 November) detaining him in a psychiatric hospital under the Mental Health Act without limit of time.
Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Roberts of West Mercia Police said: "Julie's life was sadly cut short by Jason in violent act after which we believe he intended to take his own life.
"West Mercia Police has investigated the tragic circumstances of this incident, which resulted in the prosecution of this case and which is also subject of a statutory Domestic Homicide Review to establish if lessons can be learnt to prevent this type of incident again.
"The force does not tolerate domestic abuse or knife crime and we will robustly investigate all violent crime, although thankfully crimes of this type are rare within West Mercia.
"I would like to thank all those officers who worked tirelessly to bring this case to trial as well as those who have provided support to Julie's family throughout this challenging time.
"Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to terms with their loss."
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