Man who beat mother to death gets five years

A Portstewart man will spend at least five years in prison for beating his mother to death during a psychotic episode, triggered by taking a drug once termed a legal high.

Alun Evans, who had a history of mental health problems attacked his mother Margaret in a prolonged assault in the garden of their home on Knockancor Drive after taking a drug called MXP, which he had bought online.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Alun naked and distressed. He told officers "I think I have killed my mum, she was a witch".

Mrs Evans, who was 69 when she was unlawfully killed by her youngest child, was a popular hairdresser who ran Madame Margo's Salon in the seaside town.

Alun Evans, 34, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Evans had bought the drug, a ketamine-like substance, from a company based in England.

Handing down an indeterminate custodial sentence, with a minimum of five years, Mr Justice Treacy said, "This episode is not only out of character with his relationship with his mother, but was an incident that was triggered, wholly unintentionally, by the defendant, by the consumption of a drug which he did not know was likely to produce this horrific episode.

"It appears that his research online into this drug wrongly reassured him that it was a panacea for his depression, whereas in fact it resulted in a nightmare for this family and him".

The Judge also said it was apparent that Evans has suffered from health issues linked to depression and the use of drugs for years.

Samantha Scott - the sister of Alun Evans and the daughter of Margaret Evans - travelled from her home in England to attend today's sentencing.

Like her mother, Mrs Scott tried to help her brother with his substance issues.

Mr Justice Treacy spoke of a "very moving" Victim Impact Report written by Mrs Scott, who stated: "Sometimes I feel angry and other times I worry about how he is coping with knowing what he has done.

"I feel very grieved for him as I know he wasn't in his right state of mind when he did this awfiul thing."

"As a family, we all feel that Alun needs ongoing treatment and support as well as mentoring and supervision. We don't wish to see him rot in a prison cell and then be sent on his way. We would rather see Alun receive the help that he has needed for so long," she said.

Before he was led from from the dock, Evans was told by Mr Justice Treacy that during his time in custody, "it is antipated" he will receive the assistance he requires.