Mother-in-law killed in cannabis-fuelled rage

A WOMAN killed her mother-in-law in a frenzied knife attack while suffering psychotic delusions brought on by cannabis addiction, a court heard.

Great grandmother Margaret Hartley, 77, was stabbed 35 times as she desperately tried to escape from Thai born Amra Hartley, before she finally collapsed bleeding in the hallway of her sheltered accommodation.

Hartley, a regular cannabis user since her 20s, then took a shower while fully clothed, put on a long black sequinned velvet kaftan used as a dressing gown by her victim, and drove to her husband's shop in Huddersfield. There she was hysterical, bleeding from injuries to herself and "went berserk" while being carried to an a ambulance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She was diagnosed as severely mentally ill and sectioned to hospital, Jonathan Sharp prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

A beautician, she had met her husband John, a tattooist, in Germany, marrying him in 2006.

He had noticed her increasingly bizarre behaviour over previous days, as she talked about a mathematical theory connected with dates and became convinced her tutor at college was her mother from a previous life. The evening before the fatal attack she had suddenly smashed a drinking glass and put it to her wrist, saying "I'm going to kill myself" but he had calmed her down, blaming stress.

However, around 5am she got up and while he thought she was taking their dog for a walk, drove to her mother-in-law's address in Cross Keys Court, Horbury, Wakefield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Sharp said Hartley was distressed and talking gibberish, telling her mother-in-law: "You must come to Thailand with me now."

Mrs Hartley managed to calm her down and gave her a cup of tea and some breakfast. After she spoke on the phone to her husband her mood improved and she left.

But a couple of hours later Mrs Hartley was on the phone to her daughter Louise when Hartley returned again. Her daughter overheard Hartley saying "You need to come now. It's better you come" before the phone went dead.

Hartley then embarked on a frenzied and sustained attack pursuing her victim around her home, inflicting multiple stab wounds including 13 to her chest, almost cutting through a rib, puncturing both lungs and severing an internal artery.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hartley, 41, of Knowle Avenue, Huddersfield, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The court heard that, drug-free, she recovered from her mental illness.

Imposing an indeterminate jail sentence for public protection, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, said he was satisfied there was a risk if she relapsed.

"It is widely known that the excessive use of cannabis can produce paranoia and on occasions psychotic episodes, one of the manifestations of which can be delusions."

Ordering her to serve a minimum of three years and four months in custody, he stressed she would only be released when the Parole Board was sure she was no longer dangerous.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Julian Goose QC for Hartley said she had grown increasingly dependent on cannabis because she felt unhappy and isolated and missed Germany.

Her memories of that day were disjointed and she felt genuine remorse.

After the case Mrs Hartley's family said they would never recover from the loss and did not accept that Amra did not know what she was doing.

"We feel Amra should have been tried for murder and not given a get out clause of diminished responsibility."

Related topics: