A former Eton College master inflicted "horrific and "appalling" fatal injuries on his 84-year-old mother when she tried to get him medical help, a court heard.
Matthew Corry, 46, suffered from a manic episode and attacked Beatrice Corry at her home in West Country market town while she was on a 999-call. In the presence of call-handlers, he threatened to slash her throat before kicking, stamping and launching knee drops on her, Bristol Crown Court was told.
He has now been sentenced to a hospital and his family have spoken out about the incident. The court was told, that emergency services rushed to the scene at Beatrice's home in Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds shortly after midnight on 6 January this year, but her injuries were so severe she couldn't be saved.
READ MORE: Former Eton master killed 'incredible' mum in West Country town
Corry had been living with his mother after suffering with his mental health to try to get his life back on track, the court was told.
He had previously denied murder but entered his amended plea of manslaughter on what would have been the first day of his trial. Sentencing him to a hospital order today (Monday), the Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC described the injuries he inflicted during a sustained attack were "appalling and horrific."
He said Beatrice had phoned the local doctors on 5 January saying Corry had been unwell and was causing concern and making threats to his own life. The judge told him: "You had plainly lost insight again. You went to the surgery and asked them to remove you from any list of people to triage that day.
"It was just after midnight on the morning of 6 January when Beatrice phoned 999 telling them you had become manic and had attacked her. The call captures much of the attack being launched."
The judge said Corry could be heard threatening to cut his mother's throat and being verbally abusive to her.
After she was killed, he then filmed a video of the house.
Judge Blair added: "The police came to arrest you - but sadly it was too late to save your mother." Corry was later heard saying he killed her "in an act of passion" - because she tried to make him attend a doctor's appointment.
The judge said: "You said you had kicked, stamped and kneed her. She suffered appalling and horrific injuries. Those in her chest and abdomen were most in keeping with those involving stamps, kicks and knee drops
"Her injuries were appalling."
Her cause of death was given as "multiple blunt force injuries." Judge Blair said that despite her age, Beatrice was "fit, healthy and sprightly."
He described her as a "pillar of the community in Chipping Campden" and was an active volunteer with a generous heart.
He told Corry he was an "intelligent man and a high achiever" in his working life but his psychiatric history included three stays in a secure facility due to manic episodes.
The first of which was 11 years ago with the most recent in 2020 and he had been diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder In May 2022 he moved to Gloucester to live with his mother and returned there after a brief relationship broke down in January 2023.
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In a victim impact statement, the defendant's brother and victim's son Nicholas Corry said the family had tried to help him on many occasions. He added: "It is hard to convey in words the loss I've experienced since I've lost my mother. My children have lost a grandmother they adored and who dotted on them.
"Whilst dealing with deep personal trauma, I have also had to face the horror of what occurred to my mother.
I am filled with guilt that I underestimated the risk my brother posed to our mother, who had opened her home to him and provided him with a safe environment to pull his life together.
"Matthew's crime was horrific and resulted in the death of an 84-year-old woman. Nonetheless, I recognise that if he had not been ill and experiencing a manic episode my mother would still be alive.
"In my view he would not ordinarily bring harm to anyone. Our family has been wretched and pulled apart by the horrific circumstances surrounding our mother's death.
"I hope he gets the medical support he needs to manage his mental health." Another family member told the court: "The anger, loss and grief have taken away the heart of the family
"The love and laughter she brought to our lives has been taken away too early. My whole family must live with a shadow that gives us sleepless nights, fear and loss, fear that it could happen to another member of our family in years to come.
"Taking a life is the most violent act of hatred. There is no going back. It can never be undone. Will we be, as a family in the future, safe from the acts of Matthew Corry?" Defending Corry, Mr Wheeler said his client had "overwhelming remorse for what he has done - and the impact on those he loves and those who love him."
In a statement read to the court by his solicitor, Mr Corry said: "I am appalled at the devastation I have reeked on family and friends and most of all my mother. I am so sorry for all of that - I want the court to know I am truly remorseful and horrified and deeply saddened towards the deep act of violence to my mother.
"I owe it to my family to get better and address the mental health problems which is what I aim to do."
Mr Wheeler added his client had "very limited recollection of the incident itself and the lead up to it The judge imposed a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act.
If he is released, he will be subject to ongoing monitoring and care and if not compliant a return to hospital would be "immediate." A previous hearing heard Corry had been living with his mother in her apartment within a converted grammar school at the time of her death.
The victim had also previously lived in an apartment The Styles in Berkshire that was a former home of crime writer Agatha Christie. Mrs Corry, a retired teacher and volunteer, was part of the University of the Third Age and was an award-winning volunteer at the Campden Home Nursing charity shop.
Corry worked at Eton until 2008 and had been teaching biology at fee-paying Godolphin and Latymer, in West London, until April 2020.
