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| Boy murdered stepmum Fiona Scourfield with samurai sword | Boy murdered stepmum Fiona Scourfield with samurai sword |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A boy who killed his stepmother with an axe and samurai sword was "obsessed" with watching extreme violence. | |
| Rueben Brathwaite, 17, admitted murdering Fiona Scourfield, 54, at Broadmoor Farm in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, on 6 March. | Rueben Brathwaite, 17, admitted murdering Fiona Scourfield, 54, at Broadmoor Farm in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, on 6 March. |
| Brathwaite was sentenced to life in prison at Swansea Crown Court, with a minimum of 15 years. | Brathwaite was sentenced to life in prison at Swansea Crown Court, with a minimum of 15 years. |
| Judge Mr Justice Simon Picken said it was a "savage attack against a defenceless woman". | Judge Mr Justice Simon Picken said it was a "savage attack against a defenceless woman". |
| Brathwaite killed dog rescuer Ms Scourfield before trying to upload pictures of her body to the internet. | Brathwaite killed dog rescuer Ms Scourfield before trying to upload pictures of her body to the internet. |
| The court heard the teenager developed an interest in videos of beheading, suicide and mass murder on website 4chan in the run up to the murder. | The court heard the teenager developed an interest in videos of beheading, suicide and mass murder on website 4chan in the run up to the murder. |
| Prosecutor Paul Hipkin said: "The images demonstrated murder, death and mutilation." | Prosecutor Paul Hipkin said: "The images demonstrated murder, death and mutilation." |
| The court heard Brathwaite arrived home from a "normal school day" and later in the afternoon, he lured Ms Scourfield outside and repeatedly struck her over the head with an axe. | The court heard Brathwaite arrived home from a "normal school day" and later in the afternoon, he lured Ms Scourfield outside and repeatedly struck her over the head with an axe. |
| He then cut her throat with a samurai sword taken from underneath his father's bed. | He then cut her throat with a samurai sword taken from underneath his father's bed. |
| Following the attack the teenager called the police, confessing to the murder. | Following the attack the teenager called the police, confessing to the murder. |
| Mr Hipkin said when officers asked why he had murdered Ms Scourfield, he said he was "fed up of life" and saw killing his stepmother as a "way out". | Mr Hipkin said when officers asked why he had murdered Ms Scourfield, he said he was "fed up of life" and saw killing his stepmother as a "way out". |
| Brathwaite considered attacking his father but thought he would be "too powerful" and would fight back. | Brathwaite considered attacking his father but thought he would be "too powerful" and would fight back. |
| In the 999 call to police, he said: "I've just killed someone. The person is Fiona Scourfield. | In the 999 call to police, he said: "I've just killed someone. The person is Fiona Scourfield. |
| "I know she's dead. Her pulse has stopped. There's no signs of life. I hit her so many times in the head, about eight to nine times with the axe." | "I know she's dead. Her pulse has stopped. There's no signs of life. I hit her so many times in the head, about eight to nine times with the axe." |
| He later told police his stepmother took good care of him and he was "sure she loves me and my father". | He later told police his stepmother took good care of him and he was "sure she loves me and my father". |
| Paul Hobson, defending, said the violent content Brathwaite regularly watched in the months leading to the killing meant "after time, a natural revulsion to pain and crime became deadened to him". | Paul Hobson, defending, said the violent content Brathwaite regularly watched in the months leading to the killing meant "after time, a natural revulsion to pain and crime became deadened to him". |
| After the attack, Brathwaite took two photos of the victim's body which he tried to upload to 4chan, but failed. | After the attack, Brathwaite took two photos of the victim's body which he tried to upload to 4chan, but failed. |
| Mr Hobson said his client had "committed a dreadful crime" and Ms Scourfield's death was "brutal and served no purpose". | Mr Hobson said his client had "committed a dreadful crime" and Ms Scourfield's death was "brutal and served no purpose". |
| Brathwaite told the court: "I believe without the right level of help I believe I will remain a danger to myself." | Brathwaite told the court: "I believe without the right level of help I believe I will remain a danger to myself." |
| In a letter to the court, Brathwaite said his stepmother was a "great believer in me" and wanted him to go to university, adding she had "so much love for me". | In a letter to the court, Brathwaite said his stepmother was a "great believer in me" and wanted him to go to university, adding she had "so much love for me". |
| Ms Scourfield was described as "loving and caring" by family and volunteered with the German Shepherd Rescue UK charity. | Ms Scourfield was described as "loving and caring" by family and volunteered with the German Shepherd Rescue UK charity. |
| Mr Justice Picken said Brathwaite complained of loneliness, unhappiness and depression but had not been suffering from any mental health condition. | Mr Justice Picken said Brathwaite complained of loneliness, unhappiness and depression but had not been suffering from any mental health condition. |
| He added: "No doubt inspired by the graphic images seen on the internet in the months before the attack, you attempted to upload images of the attack to the internet. | He added: "No doubt inspired by the graphic images seen on the internet in the months before the attack, you attempted to upload images of the attack to the internet. |
| "Your obsession went to watching material including mass murders and massacres." | "Your obsession went to watching material including mass murders and massacres." |
| A victim impact statement read on behalf of Ms Scourfield's mother Charlotte said: "Fiona made Rueben warmly welcome and made sure he was properly dressed and equipped for school. | A victim impact statement read on behalf of Ms Scourfield's mother Charlotte said: "Fiona made Rueben warmly welcome and made sure he was properly dressed and equipped for school. |
| "I believe there was a loving bond between them. My life is destroyed." | "I believe there was a loving bond between them. My life is destroyed." |
| After the hearing, Det Supt Gary Phillips from Dyfed-Powys Police said Ms Scourfield "lost her life in a savage and unprovoked attack". | After the hearing, Det Supt Gary Phillips from Dyfed-Powys Police said Ms Scourfield "lost her life in a savage and unprovoked attack". |