Son jailed for murdering mother with carving knife

Mark Stephens attacked his mother with a carving knife during an argument over the family's furniture business. Credit: South Wales Police

A man has been jailed for life after stabbing his mother to death with a carving knife.

Mark Stephens, 44, attacked 67-year-old Rita Stephens at their home in Pencoed, Bridgend, during a row over the family's furniture firm.

Stephens, who had been drinking at the time, told the court he "snapped" after arguing with his mother about mounting business debts.

He had denied murder, instead admitting to manslaughter - but was found guilty of murder following a trial and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

Swansea Crown Court heard "frail" Mrs Stephens suffered 38 wounds from a carving knife and fork set, and that her son had shown "no remorse" for his crime.

Mr Justice David Holgate told Stephens: "You have shown only self-pity for the situation you have found yourself in.

"From your evidence in court it's plain you still show no remorse at all for for having killed your mother."

After the sentence, Mrs Stephens' family said: "We thank the police and CPS for their conduct and diligence and their absolute belief murder was the only acceptable judgement.

"Rita was our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister and aunt.

"She was a matriarch of the family and we will not allow the tragedy that has befallen us to break our family spirit. The family are united in grief for the loss of a beautiful person."