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Father 'battered 10-year-old boy to death before killing wife in fire' | Father 'battered 10-year-old boy to death before killing wife in fire' |
(7 days later) | |
A father with a history of mental illness is believed to have battered his 10-year-old son with a sledgehammer as he lay in bed before starting a fire that claimed his own life and that of his estranged wife, an inquest has heard. | A father with a history of mental illness is believed to have battered his 10-year-old son with a sledgehammer as he lay in bed before starting a fire that claimed his own life and that of his estranged wife, an inquest has heard. |
Ben Philpotts and his mother Patricia were both pronounced dead on the morning of the fire at a bungalow in Newquay, Cornwall. The father and husband, Harold Philpotts, died in hospital eight days later when he suffered multiple organ failure. | Ben Philpotts and his mother Patricia were both pronounced dead on the morning of the fire at a bungalow in Newquay, Cornwall. The father and husband, Harold Philpotts, died in hospital eight days later when he suffered multiple organ failure. |
The inquest in Truro was told that Mr Philpotts had a history of hypochondria and had once had both himself and his son tested for HIV. | The inquest in Truro was told that Mr Philpotts had a history of hypochondria and had once had both himself and his son tested for HIV. |
He was unhappy because his relationship with Mrs Philpotts was breaking down and once said: "If I can't have my little family, no one can," it was claimed. | He was unhappy because his relationship with Mrs Philpotts was breaking down and once said: "If I can't have my little family, no one can," it was claimed. |
The inquest heard that Mrs Philpotts and Ben were living with her mother, Betty Bantock, 80, at the time of the tragedy in January 2010. | The inquest heard that Mrs Philpotts and Ben were living with her mother, Betty Bantock, 80, at the time of the tragedy in January 2010. |
Bantock described Mr Philpotts, 47, as a "Jekyll and Hyde character" who refused to take medication because he believed doctors were trying to kill him. | Bantock described Mr Philpotts, 47, as a "Jekyll and Hyde character" who refused to take medication because he believed doctors were trying to kill him. |
He had been staying with his family over the weekend before the fire and was unhappy at the prospect of having to return to his own flat that morning. | He had been staying with his family over the weekend before the fire and was unhappy at the prospect of having to return to his own flat that morning. |
Bantock said she heard a "terrific explosion", adding: "It was like a bomb going off, and then shattering of glass." She said Mr Philpotts came downstairs. "He walked straight past me. He didn't say anything to me," she said. | Bantock said she heard a "terrific explosion", adding: "It was like a bomb going off, and then shattering of glass." She said Mr Philpotts came downstairs. "He walked straight past me. He didn't say anything to me," she said. |
Mrs Philpotts's niece, Samantha Whitewood, who was in the bungalow at the time of the fire, described seeing Mr Philpotts emerge from the upstairs flat covered in soot and blood. | Mrs Philpotts's niece, Samantha Whitewood, who was in the bungalow at the time of the fire, described seeing Mr Philpotts emerge from the upstairs flat covered in soot and blood. |
She said: "I very quickly became aware of a big smashing sound. I could hear Pat screaming something like 'No!' | She said: "I very quickly became aware of a big smashing sound. I could hear Pat screaming something like 'No!' |
"I walked into the hallway and asked what was going on. I saw Harry coming down. He walked towards the kitchen and was covered in soot. | "I walked into the hallway and asked what was going on. I saw Harry coming down. He walked towards the kitchen and was covered in soot. |
"He had the most terrified look on his face and an injury to his right arm. I said: 'What's happened?' He didn't speak, he just walked by." | "He had the most terrified look on his face and an injury to his right arm. I said: 'What's happened?' He didn't speak, he just walked by." |
She said she ran upstairs to be met by "thick smoke, lying like a blanket". | She said she ran upstairs to be met by "thick smoke, lying like a blanket". |
Whitewood told the court that her uncle was unhappy at the prospect of being separated from his wife and son following a breakdown in his relationship with Mrs Philpotts, 44. | Whitewood told the court that her uncle was unhappy at the prospect of being separated from his wife and son following a breakdown in his relationship with Mrs Philpotts, 44. |
The court heard two petrol cans were found in Mrs Philpotts's room where the fire is believed to have started and a sledgehammer was discovered in Ben's bed. | The court heard two petrol cans were found in Mrs Philpotts's room where the fire is believed to have started and a sledgehammer was discovered in Ben's bed. |
The forensic pathologist Russell Delaney said Mrs Philpotts was "alive and breathing" at the time the fire started but died as a result of the blaze. | The forensic pathologist Russell Delaney said Mrs Philpotts was "alive and breathing" at the time the fire started but died as a result of the blaze. |
Her son was killed by a combination of the effects of a severe blow or blows to the head and from breathing in smoke. | Her son was killed by a combination of the effects of a severe blow or blows to the head and from breathing in smoke. |
The former painter and decorator Mr Philpotts was arrested by police nearby around three hours after the blaze started, and died in Frenchay hospital in Bristol eight days later. | The former painter and decorator Mr Philpotts was arrested by police nearby around three hours after the blaze started, and died in Frenchay hospital in Bristol eight days later. |
The court heard Mr Philpotts began to get ill in 2007, and was sectioned the following year. He suffered from severe bouts of depression. | The court heard Mr Philpotts began to get ill in 2007, and was sectioned the following year. He suffered from severe bouts of depression. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
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