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| Son cleared of killing Brierley Hill mum speaks of relief | Son cleared of killing Brierley Hill mum speaks of relief |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A son cleared of killing his mother has spoken of his relief, saying: "Who wants the stigma of being known as 'the bloke who kills their mum?'" | A son cleared of killing his mother has spoken of his relief, saying: "Who wants the stigma of being known as 'the bloke who kills their mum?'" |
| Mark Jennens, 40, was accused of manslaughter when his mother died after a row at their West Midlands home over Christmas dinner in 2015. | Mark Jennens, 40, was accused of manslaughter when his mother died after a row at their West Midlands home over Christmas dinner in 2015. |
| The prosecution argued he threw her to the floor causing a fractured hip. | The prosecution argued he threw her to the floor causing a fractured hip. |
| But after a jury cleared him, he said: "For the first time in 18 months I can look myself in the eye in the mirror." | But after a jury cleared him, he said: "For the first time in 18 months I can look myself in the eye in the mirror." |
| 'Jekyll and Hyde' | 'Jekyll and Hyde' |
| Mr Jennens, of Brierley Hill, was the carer for his 78-year-old mother, who suffered from lung cancer. He admitted the pair had a difficult relationship. | Mr Jennens, of Brierley Hill, was the carer for his 78-year-old mother, who suffered from lung cancer. He admitted the pair had a difficult relationship. |
| "She was a Jekyll and Hyde. She could be lovely or she could be evil, you never quite knew what you were getting," he told the BBC. | "She was a Jekyll and Hyde. She could be lovely or she could be evil, you never quite knew what you were getting," he told the BBC. |
| Describing what happened on Christmas Eve, he said she fell after he picked her up by her arms in a "tragic accident" following their dispute. | Describing what happened on Christmas Eve, he said she fell after he picked her up by her arms in a "tragic accident" following their dispute. |
| "My mother has been a difficult character and I'd been her sole carer for 10 years," he said. | "My mother has been a difficult character and I'd been her sole carer for 10 years," he said. |
| "She was being aggressive as per usual. Thousands of times she has been aggressive before. | "She was being aggressive as per usual. Thousands of times she has been aggressive before. |
| "And this one time I wanted to cry to be quite honest. So I went to pick her up to put her outside the door for two minutes so I could sit there and have a sob. | "And this one time I wanted to cry to be quite honest. So I went to pick her up to put her outside the door for two minutes so I could sit there and have a sob. |
| "Well she went [fell] over and I phoned the police and ambulance." | "Well she went [fell] over and I phoned the police and ambulance." |
| His mother was taken to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, but later contracted pneumonia and died on 18 January 2016. | His mother was taken to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, but later contracted pneumonia and died on 18 January 2016. |
| Mr Jennens said he was "absolutely gobsmacked" after he was arrested shortly after. | Mr Jennens said he was "absolutely gobsmacked" after he was arrested shortly after. |
| "Next thing you know I'm being done for manslaughter," he said. | "Next thing you know I'm being done for manslaughter," he said. |
| During his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, it was reported the prosecution described what happened as "a cascade of events all led from a fractured hip which she suffered at her son's hands." | During his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, it was reported the prosecution described what happened as "a cascade of events all led from a fractured hip which she suffered at her son's hands." |
| But Mr Jennens' defence barrister argued there had been a "break in the chain of causation" when Hazel was incorrectly administered Salbutamol in hospital two days before she died. | But Mr Jennens' defence barrister argued there had been a "break in the chain of causation" when Hazel was incorrectly administered Salbutamol in hospital two days before she died. |
| The jury cleared Mr Jennens in less than 90 minutes. | The jury cleared Mr Jennens in less than 90 minutes. |
| "It was never prison that bothered me," he said. | "It was never prison that bothered me," he said. |
| "No matter how difficult a relationship you've got with your mum you are always going to love them. | "No matter how difficult a relationship you've got with your mum you are always going to love them. |
| "My mum had terminal lung cancer," he said, adding the family didn't know that his mother had been told a year before she died she had six months to live. | |
| He believes the case should never have been brought and that there were many gaps, including unanswered questions about her medical care. | He believes the case should never have been brought and that there were many gaps, including unanswered questions about her medical care. |
| "Now the jury has come back unanimously after an hour-and-a-half it confirms there was no case to answer," he said. | "Now the jury has come back unanimously after an hour-and-a-half it confirms there was no case to answer," he said. |
| Mr Jennens said his family had "never doubted me for a second" and shared his relief. | Mr Jennens said his family had "never doubted me for a second" and shared his relief. |
| Mum refused help | Mum refused help |
| "I'm more relieved for my sisters because in hindsight I think they have suffered more than me," he said. | "I'm more relieved for my sisters because in hindsight I think they have suffered more than me," he said. |
| He said he had been under enormous stress looking after his mother and has called for changes to aspects of social care. | He said he had been under enormous stress looking after his mother and has called for changes to aspects of social care. |
| His mother had refused help from social service which meant he was not able to get a "vital bit of respite if only for a few hours a week". | |
| "People shouldn't be able to refuse care if there is a desperate need," he said. | "People shouldn't be able to refuse care if there is a desperate need," he said. |
| The BBC has contacted the Crown Prosecution Service and West Midlands Police for comment. | The BBC has contacted the Crown Prosecution Service and West Midlands Police for comment. |
| Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is a very tragic case and our thoughts are with the family. We investigate every death in hospital and these form part of our mortality review process. | Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is a very tragic case and our thoughts are with the family. We investigate every death in hospital and these form part of our mortality review process. |
| "No clinical issues were raised during our investigation and we would be happy to discuss any concerns the family have with them." | "No clinical issues were raised during our investigation and we would be happy to discuss any concerns the family have with them." |