Your current location:HOME >business >Son who offered £5,000 on Facebook to anyone would kill his father before punching the 72 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 08:20:30 Source: Internet compilationEdit:business
A son who offered £5,000 on Facebook to anyone who would kill his father before punching the 72-year
A son who offered £5,000 on Facebook to anyone who would kill his father before punching the 72-year-old to death himself has been jailed for 17 years.
Austin Duckworth forced his way into the house of his father Stephen on August 26 2023, repeatedly punched him on the head and told him he 'better call an ambulance' as he walked off.
The 37-year-old, of no fixed address, did not attend court to face his extended family when Judge Medland KC handed down his life sentence.
The judge said bizarre and abusive messages, in which Duckworth offered a reward to anyone prepared to kill his father, indicated a degree of poor mental health.
Despite assessments by professionals to determine whether Duckworth had grounds for the partial defence of diminished responsibility, reports concluded there was nothing to meet the criteria.
Austin Duckworth, 37, (pictured) of no fixed address, did not attend court to face his extended family when Judge Medland KC handed down his life sentence
The judge said bizarre and abusive messages, in which Duckworth offered a reward to anyone prepared to kill his father Stephen (pictured), indicated a degree of poor mental health
During a trial at Preston Crown Court Duckworth refused to enter the witness box to answer questions about the events which led to his father’s death.
The only account he gave was a written defence statement in which he denied entering his father’s house on the morning of August 12 - later found to be a lie when the jury found him guilty of murder.
On August 26, 2023, Austin Duckworth visited the home of his father and demanded a pair of walking boots.
Duckworth had been barred from the house because of his increasingly abusive and violent behaviour towards his father.
When Mr Duckworth Snr said he could not find the boots, his son kicked the door so hard the security catch flew off and 'pummelled' his father in the hallway.
Despite calling 999 and speaking to police, Mr Duckworth Snr initially refused medical attention and started feeling increasingly unwell as the day went on.
Mr Duckworth walked off in the direction off in the direction of Preston North End football club, leaving his father injured and shaken.
Judge Medland KC concluded Duckworth's (pictured) conviction for murder was on the basis he intended to do really serious harm to his father, but did not intend to kill
During a trial at Preston Crown Court (pictured) Duckworth refused to enter the witness box to answer questions about the events which led to his father’s death
Police arrived at the house and Mr Duckworth was able to make a statement which was captured on a body worn camera.
Later in the evening, Mr Duckworth Snr called an ambulance from his home in Preston and hospital staff discovered he had a 'devastating bleed to the brain'.
By October 12, the father had died from his injuries with a post mortem examination revealing the cause of his death as blunt force head trauma.
Judge Medland KC concluded Duckworth's conviction for murder was on the basis he intended to do really serious harm to his father, but did not intend to kill.
He said: 'The defendant is not present today for the sentence hearing. He has refused to attend.
'That is, in my judgement, an act of contempt to the memory of Stephen Duckworth, the wider family and the court. It displays a total absence of remorse.
'This was the culmination of a period of about three years or slightly more during which Austin Duckworth's behaviour was frequently unacceptable, aggressive, threatening and deeply, deeply troubling. The end result of that is that Stephen Duckworth had to eject him from his home.'
In mitigation the judge took into account Duckworth's previous good character and his mental health difficulties.
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash2024-05-21 08:15
What the long2024-05-21 08:04
Iran vows revenge on Israel after Damascus embassy attack2024-05-21 07:51
Big, expensive, and not fit for purpose: What you need to know about Premier House2024-05-21 07:22
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer2024-05-21 07:08
Police call Interpol, ask public to help identify clothes on woman found dead in Gulf Harbour2024-05-21 07:04
Strong winds linger after storm blows through much of country2024-05-21 06:44
West Coast meat processor admits water quality failure2024-05-21 06:36
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants2024-05-21 06:36
Israel launches night raid on Gaza al2024-05-21 06:09
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City2024-05-21 08:05
Watch: PM Christopher Luxon speaks at first post2024-05-21 08:04
The tall man in a van taking the plunge around Aotearoa2024-05-21 07:44
Viable but risky: Former Whakapapa ski field bidder2024-05-21 06:58
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer2024-05-21 06:31
Unused Auckland surgical centre could be treating more than 15,000 patients a year2024-05-21 06:30
Police call Interpol, ask public to help identify clothes on woman found dead in Gulf Harbour2024-05-21 06:02
Exploited migrants: New language rules may force workers still in debt to leave NZ2024-05-21 06:01
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang2024-05-21 05:44
West Coast emergency staff preparing for deluge2024-05-21 05:36