• A man with schizophrenia stabs his mother to death
• Sentenced to life imprisonment

A man suffering from schizophrenia has been sentenced to life imprisonment, subject to a medical order, after killing his mother in Leicestershire, Britain.

Daniel Cook, 39, admitted to killing his mother, Eileen Cook, with diminished responsibility.

Leicester Crown Court issued a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years, but he will remain under hospital supervision in accordance with the Mental Health Act until he is deemed fit to be transferred to prison.

The court explained that Cook attacked his mother at his parents’ home on May 11. She died outside the house after suffering around 30 stab wounds, two of which penetrated the ribs, requiring “significant force,” according to Judge Timothy Spencer.

Cook had spent the previous night with his parents, and his mother sent a text message to his sister, Sophie, expressing concern about his behavior.

The following day, Cook and his mother were seen in the garden arranging boxes before returning to the house, having dinner, and watching television.

Cook went into the kitchen and his mother followed him, where a struggle broke out.

His father stated that his son appeared tense and agitated, and his mother was heard screaming, saying, “Don’t do it.”

Forensic evidence showed that his mother was injured in the kitchen before attempting to flee toward the garage, where she was stabbed again outside the house.

During the attack, the father warned his son, saying, “Stop, you’ll kill her,” to which Cook replied, “That’s exactly what I want. I want her to die.”

Police arrived and subdued Cook using a stun device, while paramedics attempted to save his mother but to no avail.

The judge explained that Cook believed his mother had forced him to take medication during his childhood and that he sometimes accused her of witchcraft.

He had undergone psychiatric treatment since the age of 17, but stopped follow-up and taking medication when he was 34, leading to a gradual deterioration of his mental condition.

Defense counsel said: “When Daniel realizes what he has done, he will suffer for the rest of his life because he did not receive adequate support.”

In a victim impact statement, his two sisters expressed mixed feelings about the sentence, pointing to the need to raise awareness of mental health services to prevent further family tragedies.

Cook is currently residing at Arnold Lodge Psychiatric Hospital in Leicester and will continue to remain there in accordance with the court’s ruling.