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James Gethen used baseball bat to beat mother to death | James Gethen used baseball bat to beat mother to death |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A boy beat his mother to death with a baseball bat and told his sister "I hope she's dead", a court has heard. | A boy beat his mother to death with a baseball bat and told his sister "I hope she's dead", a court has heard. |
James Gethen was 15 years old when he attacked his mother Ann, 39, at their home in Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in August 2010. | James Gethen was 15 years old when he attacked his mother Ann, 39, at their home in Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in August 2010. |
He was given an indeterminate detention order by a judge at Leeds Crown Court who heard he had significant psychiatric problems at the time. | He was given an indeterminate detention order by a judge at Leeds Crown Court who heard he had significant psychiatric problems at the time. |
Gethen admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Gethen admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
Gethen, now 16, was told he must serve at least five years before he is considered for release. | Gethen, now 16, was told he must serve at least five years before he is considered for release. |
Mr Justice Openshaw was told the teenager hit her a number of times with the bat while she was sitting on a settee. | Mr Justice Openshaw was told the teenager hit her a number of times with the bat while she was sitting on a settee. |
After the attack, the judge heard Gethen told his 16-year-old sister Paula: "I don't care what I've done. I'm not bothered. I hope she's dead." | After the attack, the judge heard Gethen told his 16-year-old sister Paula: "I don't care what I've done. I'm not bothered. I hope she's dead." |
School attack | School attack |
He later told a neighbour: "I hit my mum round the head with a baseball bat. I could see her brains and everything." | He later told a neighbour: "I hit my mum round the head with a baseball bat. I could see her brains and everything." |
The judge heard Gethen had a history of "episodes of unprovoked, compulsive violence" and a string of psychiatric problems including the childhood equivalent of an emerging personality disorder. | The judge heard Gethen had a history of "episodes of unprovoked, compulsive violence" and a string of psychiatric problems including the childhood equivalent of an emerging personality disorder. |
He was told of one incident in which Gethen tried to strangle a fellow pupil in a PE class with a shoelace, after which he said: "I decided I wanted to kill him." | He was told of one incident in which Gethen tried to strangle a fellow pupil in a PE class with a shoelace, after which he said: "I decided I wanted to kill him." |
The court heard Gethen had had an extreme reaction to the death of his 71-year-old father Eric on Boxing Day 2009. | The court heard Gethen had had an extreme reaction to the death of his 71-year-old father Eric on Boxing Day 2009. |
Gethen "tried to enter the grave" and "wished at the time to be buried with his father", the judge was told. | Gethen "tried to enter the grave" and "wished at the time to be buried with his father", the judge was told. |
The court was also told of Gethen's complex family life and how he lived in a fire-damaged, boarded-up house where he was forced to share a bed with his sister. | The court was also told of Gethen's complex family life and how he lived in a fire-damaged, boarded-up house where he was forced to share a bed with his sister. |
The court heard he was not suitable to be dealt with by an order to be detained in a mental hospital. | |
Instead, the judge said Gethen would be detained at a local authority secure unit. | Instead, the judge said Gethen would be detained at a local authority secure unit. |
The judge said: "There's a very high risk that he may cause serious harm to someone else. Neither I nor the doctors can say when, if ever, that danger may pass." | The judge said: "There's a very high risk that he may cause serious harm to someone else. Neither I nor the doctors can say when, if ever, that danger may pass." |
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