A Highfields man who killed his mother in his own home has been given a life sentence.
Aaron Matthew was sentenced to serve a minimum of six years and 226 days at Leicester Crown Court, after pleading guilty to manslaughter – on the grounds of diminished responsibility – in April.
On September 11 last year, emergency services were called to Matthew’s home address in Lincoln Street after his father found his former partner and Matthew’s mother – Ingrid Matthew – inside. She had been stabbed 83 times.
Matthew had left the address prior to their arrival, but handed himself in to police in Cambridgeshire the following morning.
He was charged with murder and on March 28, a trial began at Leicester Crown Court – but experts giving evidence on behalf of both the prosecution and defence agreed that Matthew had been suffering from a previously undiagnosed recognised medical condition, namely Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – a condition that would have “impaired his judgement” in the moments around the stabbing.
They agreed this had substantially impaired his ability to exercise self-control at the time Ms Matthew was killed. As a result, Matthew entered a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Detective Inspector Nicole Main, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), was the senior investigating officer. She said: “Only Aaron Matthew can explain why he took his own mother’s life.
“I hope today’s sentencing can provide a degree of closure to Ingrid’s family and those to who she was closest.
“Sadly, no sentence given will bring her back and my heartfelt condolences go out to them as they continue with the grieving process to come to terms with their loss.”
