Mentally ill woman killed her elderly mother because she thought she looked like a WITCH

A MENTALLY ill woman who killed her elderly mother because she looked like a witch has been jailed for life today.

Regina Edwards, 53, strangled Priscilla Edwards, 78, to death with a scarf on February 21 this year.

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She later told her family it "had to be done" because her mum was "cursed," the Old Bailey heard.

Priscilla's body was found by another daughter lying on the floor in her own home in Plumstead, south east London.

The court heard that Edwards told a family member of the phone: "I did it, it was me."

Edwards pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey, having denied murder, and the Crown accepted her plea.

Edwards, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, a psychotic illness, had not been taking her medication in the days leading to the killing, the court heard.

But she took her mother's diazepam before throttling her to death.

She had been looking after her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's, dementia and partial deafness, at the time, the court heard.

Anthony Orchard QC, prosecuting, said: "She has a long history of mental illness.

"When becoming ill, her voice gets deeper and she speaks more slowly."

Edwards was sentenced to a hospital order after stabbing her daughter in the stomach and leg in 1995.

She was discharged in November 2006, and was monitored by a mental health team.

Describing the moment Priscilla's body was discovered, Mr Orchard said: "They found the door unlocked, and found the deceased lying on the floor. She was on her back, eyes closed.

"They thought she might be dead and did try to wake her up. They rang 999 and tried CPR. She was cold to the touch.

My mum is a witch, it's generational. It passes down the line. She was looking witch-like

Regina Edwards to court

"Police arrived a little while later. Meanwhile, family members had been contacting each other."

The family eventually got in touch with Edwards, who told them in a shaky voice "it was me", and repeatedly said her mother "looked like a witch and was cursed", and that it "had to be done".

Asked what had happened, she said "mum made me a cup of tea, she was trying to be helpful", but as she was frail, "she did it with difficulty".

Edwards then told her she didn't want the drink, and wrapped her scarf around her neck and strangled her.

She added: "My mum is a witch, it's generational. It passes down the line.

"She was looking witch-like."

Edwards later told police she had taken an overdose of diazepam, including some of her mother's, and confessed to the mental health team what had happened.

Mr Orchard said: "She didn't engage fully, but confirmed to the doctor 'I have killed my mum'.

"She wasn't interviewed, but when charged she confirmed 'I did it'.

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In mitigation, Michael Magarian QC, defending, said: "She is someone who is desperately trying to deal with her demons, and facing up to the reality of her mental health issues."

Judge John Bevan QC handed Edwards a life sentence with a minimum of 10 years.

But he made a hybrid order, which means she will be returned to hospital until - if ever - she is fit to go to jail, where she will then serve at least ten years.

Outlining her violent record, Judge Bevan said: "There is clearly evidence here, in her past record, of dangerousness."

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