A 10 year old boy who mistakenly shot his own father dead has revealed the real truth behind the tragic ''accident'' ten years later, the Daily Star reports.
Robert Breininger was believed to have been killed by his young son, Corey on November 3, 2003 after the youngster confessed to police that his father had been teaching him how to use a gun for hunting when the weapon suddenly fired.
But the real story behind the murder which has finally been revealed is much more alarming after Corey decided he needed to ''get it off his chest'' and confided in a teacher a decade later. Corey shockingly confessed to investigators that he was pressured into murdering his father by his stepmother, Judith Hawkey.
Hawkey, who had pocketed a hefty life insurance of nearly $500,000 (£443,000) following her husband's death was found guilty of insurance fraud, aggravated murder and four counts of endangering children stemming from the shooting of Robert Breininger. She is set to be freed from prison next year after a 10 year sentence but she still insists she is innocent of the crimes.
Defiance County Sheriff's deputies responded to the family home in Mark Centre, Ohio on the night of the shooting where they uncovered the 34 year old's body in a bedroom who had been killed by a single gunshot to his head. Corey had finally shared his evil step mother's horrifying secret 10 years later after he told a former teacher that she had compelled him to shoot his father out of mercy after she told the youngster he was already dying.
After convincing the boy that he was doing his dad a favour by killing him, she persuaded him to make it seem like a tragic mistake. But after Corey confided in his teacher, they reported the disturbing revelation to the police.
Following Hawkey's arrest, Corey addressed her in court: “The pain you have put me through should send you straight to hell." At her trial, it was also brought to light that Hawkey had quickly started the paperwork to access her husband's life insurance payout the day after he died.
Hawkey maintained her innocent during the entire trial, claiming the 10 year old had “shot his father purposely, and made up this whole story”. The twisted step mother claimed that Corey had killed his father on purpose because they were going to send him to a military school and he didn't want to attend.
Corey also revealed to an investigator that Hawken had physically threatened his life more than once and beaten him for years. Hawkey's defence time gathered evidence from a social worker who met with him prior to the shooting and said they had observed no signs of abuse and that Corey's medical records did not support his allegations.
In the end, Hawkey was put through what is known as an Alford plea which means that she although she did not confess, she accepted that the prosecution had enough evidence against her to convict her of the crime. She was then sentenced to 10 years behind bars in March 2019 on top of the five she had already served.
After the sentencing, Corey said his stepmother “got what she deserved. I was ready to get it off my chest,” he said.
“I was bearing that burden for so many years." Corey said that having finally told the truth about the killing, he was able to get on with his life.
“I can stop living in the shadows,” he said. “I don't have to worry about anything now. My biggest fear... she's gone."
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