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Woman, 26, admits killing mother Woman, 26, admits killing mother
(about 2 hours later)
A 26-year-old woman has been detained indefinitely at a secure hospital after admitting stabbing her mother to death at her home in East Sussex.A 26-year-old woman has been detained indefinitely at a secure hospital after admitting stabbing her mother to death at her home in East Sussex.
Nicola Edgington pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court to the manslaughter of her mother Marion, 60, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.Nicola Edgington pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court to the manslaughter of her mother Marion, 60, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Mrs Edgington's body was discovered at her semi-detached cottage in Upper Close, Forest Row, on 5 November 2005.Mrs Edgington's body was discovered at her semi-detached cottage in Upper Close, Forest Row, on 5 November 2005.
Her son Tom and younger daughter Sarah found her with multiple stab wounds. The court accepted Edgington's plea of not guilty to murder.
'Blighted lives' Philip Katz, prosecuting, said Edgington clashed violently with her mother, who she blamed after one of her two children was taken into care.
The court heard Edgington clashed violently with her mother, who she blamed after one of her two children was taken into care. Cut out of will
Proceedings over her grandson were triggered when Mrs Edgington and her younger daughter, Sara, became concerned about Nicola's erratic behaviour.
Mr Katz said the killer's behaviour was likely to have been fuelled by the knowledge she had been cut out of her mother's will.
Marion Edgington was found dead at her home on 5 November 2005
She had travelled to Forest Row on the day of the killing for what was supposed to have been a happy family get-together.
But Edgington behaved strangely during an evening out at pubs and bars with her brother, Tom.
Neighbours heard a row after she returned to the house, where she stabbed her mother to death and then fled in a taxi which she called at a nearby cafe.
Sara and Tom found their mother's body with a large kitchen knife with a bent tip on her chest.
After the killing, police and the family appealed for Edgington to give herself up and searched the Woolwich area of south-east London, where she had been known to be living in a night shelter.
Officers eventually found her on a bus in London.
'Tragic act'
Julian Goose, defending, said Edgington's mental illness was likely to have started several years ago but she was not treated with anti-psychotic medicines because she was able to mask her symptoms in assessments.
"It is a tragedy that her illness wasn't seen earlier and treatment wasn't given to her," he said.
"She has come to realise that the person who did this tragic act was a very ill person and that she will one day be better. It will take a long time."
Detaining her under the Mental Health Act, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told her she had "blighted the lives of your family for all time".Detaining her under the Mental Health Act, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told her she had "blighted the lives of your family for all time".
Edgington went on the run after the killing at the home divorcee Mrs Edgington shared with her partner. After the case, the Edgington family praised their mother as a "loving and caring person".
Police searched the Woolwich area of south-east London, where she had been known to be living in a night shelter, and appealed to her to turn herself in. "Everyone who knew her was touched by her kindness," they said.
She was charged with murder two-and-a-half weeks later. The court accepted her plea of not guilty to a charge of murder on Monday. "We know Marion would be very happy that finally Nicola is where she should be so she cannot hurt anyone else and can get the help she desperately needs."