Son admits stabbing mom to demise in ‘frenzied’ assault in Peterhead

A 32-year-old guy has admitted stabbing his mom to demise in a “frenzied” assault in an Aberdeenshire the town.

Jonathon Divers struck Elizabeth Watson, 58, a minimum of 40 occasions at their house in Peterhead’s Catto Drive in June 2023.

He used to be to start with charged with homicide however admitted the diminished rate of culpable murder. The High Court in Glasgow used to be instructed that the plea used to be authorised at the grounds of decreased duty.

Sentence used to be deferred pending background reviews till subsequent month.

Divers – who has finding out difficulties – attacked his mom when she instructed him to depart the valuables.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar stated: “Divers stabbed her repeatedly with a kitchen knife he was carrying in his waistband of his trousers.”

A neighbour heard cries for lend a hand and located Ms Watson mendacity at the ground the place there used to be a considerable amount of blood.

Police traced Divers to the toilet the place he used to be discovered to be smoking a cigarette. He stated that he didn’t know what had took place.

Mr McVicar added: “A pathologist stated there were 40 sharp-force injuries to the head, neck and back.”

Donald Findlay KC, protecting, instructed the court docket: “We can be satisfied that he grasps what his position is.

“He is profoundly sorry for what he did and it has brought about him an excessive amount of ache and misery.”

Sentence was deferred to the High Court in Livingston by judge Andrew Cubie, who continued to detain Divers in a state mental hospital.

The judge said: “This used to be a frenzied assault during which you time and again stabbed her.

“It is disturbing a son killing his mother, and there is nothing I can say or do that can reflect the enormity of this deed.

“The penalties of your decreased duty imply you might be not able to control your feelings and care for keep an eye on – alcohol had a most likely have an effect on.”

He added: “You settle for the demise of a much-loved spouse, daughter, grandmother who contributed to our neighborhood thru her pals, circle of relatives and church involvement.”