A Preston man has been jailed for life for the murder of his mother.
Bernadette Green, 88, died at her home in Inkerman Street on Friday May 18th. Her death was not initially thought to be suspicious. However a Home Office post mortem carried out on 6th June gave a cause of death of smothering and detectives launched a murder investigation.
Bernadette’s son John Stephen Green, 65, of Inkerman Street, Preston was arrested and later charged with her murder.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing.
Bernadette and John had lived together at the address since 2009 and John had become her sole carer following a fall in July of the same year.
At the time of her death, Bernadette weighed just 5st 10, compared to 12 stone in 2013.
Police enquiries established that despite her deteriorating health, she had not seen a doctor since October 2013 and John had turned down all opportunities for medical assistance.
Examination of text messages sent in the months leading up to Bernadette’s death also revealed John had referred to his mother as a ‘stinking corpse’.
Following a one week trial at Preston Crown Court, a jury today (11 December) delivered a unanimous guilty verdict. John Stephen Green was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 14 years.