A Lewisham man who admitted to fatally stabbing his mother will be detained in hospital "indefinitely" after the conclusion of his trial at the Old Bailey yesterday (Friday, January 8).
31-year-old James Sealy from Lewisham Way in South-East London pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey Friday, and was sentenced to "an indefinite hospital order under Sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act."
Police working on the case described it as "extremely sad" as further details from the fatal stabbing emerged.
A spokesperson for London's Met Police described how Sealy entered Walworth Police Station around 9pm on June 10, 2020, "and told officers that he had stabbed his mother."
He was arrested and police attended his address where they found 58-year-old Dawn Bennett with injuries.
She was taken to a south London hospital where she sadly died days later, on 16 June, – the day of her 59th birthday.
Medical experts brought in to assess Sealy's condition concluded that he was suffering from paranoid beliefs. He pleaded not guilty to murder but manslaughter.
Detective Sergeant Victoria Yusuf, Specialist Crime South, said of the case: "This is an extremely sad case which has devastated Dawn’s family, who’ve shown incredible bravery and dignity throughout this investigation and during today’s proceedings.
"They have been, and continue to be, supported by specially trained officers. Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time."
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