Dad forgives son who stabbed mum to death 11 times after a row over money
Bradley Huggins was suffering from schizophrenia at the time.
A man who stabbed his ‘beacon of kindness’ mother to death after she went to clean his flat will stay in hospital indefinitely after admitting killing her.
Bradley Huggins, 25, had moved out of his parents’ home after his threats and behaviour had grown concerning.
Two months later, he attacked his mother Hazel Huggins, 53, who ‘could not have done more to help and support him’.
Mrs Huggins was left with 11 knife wounds in the neck, chest and abdomen after she said he wouldn’t receive money he believed was due.
She had visited to help clean his flat after he believed he contracted a contagious infection.
Huggins then sent a flurry of cryptic communications that baffled police and his father, Guy, after the killing on July 29, 2023, a court heard.
The 25-year-old initially called Devon & Cornwall Police at 4.11pm, speaking and swearing in a low voice that police struggled to understand.
He had also been sending WhatsApp messages to his father saying he was sorry and urging him to call the police.
After failing to reach his wife since 3.40pm, even driving to the flat still with no reply, that’s exactly what Guy did.
But the messages kept coming even while on the phone to 999, with his son telling him of his mother ‘passing peacefully’, and about being armed with knives in ‘self-defence’.
Meanwhile, police had returned Huggins’ unclear 999 call, at which point he confessed to killing his mother.
Armed officers forced entry to his flat where they found Mrs Huggins fatally injured.
Bradley Huggins was stood hooded by the window wearing a surgical mask, with the knife on a coffee table in the living room.
Police arrested him on suspicion of murder.
He confessed to killing his mother during a police interview, where he claimed there was tension between him and his mother ‘over a mixture of things’.
Mr Huggins had flipped and turned on her during a dispute over money, attacking her with the knife in the kitchen and the bedroom.
Although initially charged with murder, the court accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility at a hearing on March 28.
Huggins, who suffered from borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression, had been suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack, according to expert psychiatric reports compiled after the incident.
Today he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order at Plymouth Crown Court.
Guy is still grappling with the ‘profound loss’ of his ‘beloved’ wife Hazel, who he described as ‘my amazing wife and mother to my two sons’.
On behalf of the family, he said: ‘She was a cherished member of our extended family and a precious friend – a beacon of kindness, faith, joy, and love in our community and beyond.
‘Hazel’s radiant spirit touched the lives of many as she lived out her Christian faith.
‘Today we encountered evidence for the first time which we will need time to process as we grieve.
‘The events of July 29, 2023, will forever be etched in our hearts as a day of unimaginable tragedy.
‘The loss of Hazel has reverberated not only through our immediate family but also through our extended network of friends, neighbours, colleagues, and international faith community.
‘The outpouring of support, both near and far, has been a source of huge comfort during this time of profound grief.
‘Brad’s actions were the result of severe mental illness.
‘We find ourselves sharing a tragic bond with far too many families who have suffered similar bereavements either at the hands of mentally ill relatives, or by strangers known to have serious mental health conditions.
‘Hazel fought for Brad, she loved him, and she could not have done more to help and support him.
‘We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Devon and Cornwall Police, the CPS, our police family liaison officers, Victim Support, and Join the Dots Solutions for their unwavering support and dedication throughout this ordeal.
‘I don’t know how people get through events and traumas like this without a faith. In the midst of our deep sorrow, we draw strength and comfort through our Christian faith and the outpouring of prayers and support from around the world.
‘Hazel’s death will never be forgotten, and has impacted many people, but we choose to forgive my eldest son Brad and to advocate for him to receive the medical care and support that he desperately needs.
‘Hazel was, and always will be, “a bright shining light, loved by many”. She was not only my wife, she was also my soul mate, and I miss her so, so much.’
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Neil Blanchard, said: ‘This is a terribly sad and tragic case, and our thoughts remain very much with family members who have acted with grace and dignity throughout the investigation.
‘We have worked closely with the CPS and independent mental health experts who concluded that Huggins was suffering from schizophrenia when he attacked and killed his mother.
‘I would like to thank the investigation team for their diligence and hard work on this case and I hope today’s outcome brings a measure of peace for the family.’
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