Robert Owens pleaded guilty to murdering his mother Iris Owens, whose body was found in Nelson Street, Ystrad Mynach, in May
A 47-year-old man is due to be sentenced today after admitting the murder of his mother.
Robert Owens, from the Cynon Valley , entered the guilty plea at Cardiff Crown Court before Judge Eleri Rees on Friday, September 9.
The body of Iris Owens was discovered in Ystrad Mynach on Tuesday, May 3.
Emergency services were called to the address in Nelson Street at 5.45pm.
Judge Rees previously ordered a psychiatric report.
Mrs Owens was described by neighbours as "lovely" and "friendly".
She was an active volunteer for local heritage groups.
Owens, from River Row in Abercynon , is due to be sentenced by Mrs Justice Nicola Davies at 10.30am at Cardiff Crown Court .
Judge will hand down sentence tomorrow
The defendant’s barrister argued his guilty plea could not have been entered any earlier.
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said she will retire to think about the case and sentence tomorrow morning.
She said: “I do want to very carefully consider the facts of what is a tragic and unusual case.”
The judge told the defendant: “I want to think very carefully about the sentence in this case.”
She will sentence at 10.30am tomorrow.
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said she will retire to think about the case and sentence tomorrow morning.
She said: “I do want to very carefully consider the facts of what is a tragic and unusual case.”
The judge told the defendant: “I want to think very carefully about the sentence in this case.”
She will sentence at 10.30am tomorrow.
'Significant remorse'
The barrister representing Robert Owens said: “He is devastated by what happened in those few minutes of anger in the garden.”
He added: “Terrible though this case is, it is a case in which some measure of leniency can be shown to the defendant.”
He submitted his client had shown “significant remorse”.
He added: “Terrible though this case is, it is a case in which some measure of leniency can be shown to the defendant.”
He submitted his client had shown “significant remorse”.
Defendant kicked and strangled his mother then hit her with chainsaw
The court heard Robert Owens accepts kicking his mother, strangling her and striking her with the chainsaw.
The defence barrister said: “However it started that afternoon, he has to accept that there were other options available to him and that nothing can excuse what he did.”
The defence barrister said: “However it started that afternoon, he has to accept that there were other options available to him and that nothing can excuse what he did.”
'Close, loving, supportive relationship' between mother and son
The defence barrister is now putting forward mitigation.
He said: “As to the relationship between mother and son, that is the proper background against which one assesses his remorse.
“This was a close, loving and supportive relationship.
“To sit where he now does today, having done what he did, we submit is a very terrible thing.
“He would like it said on his behalf there is not a moment in the day in which he is not reminded of what happened.
“That is likely to be the case for the duration of the sentence.”
He said: “As to the relationship between mother and son, that is the proper background against which one assesses his remorse.
“This was a close, loving and supportive relationship.
“To sit where he now does today, having done what he did, we submit is a very terrible thing.
“He would like it said on his behalf there is not a moment in the day in which he is not reminded of what happened.
“That is likely to be the case for the duration of the sentence.”
'Short-lived' suffering
Mr Clee said the victim’s suffering was “short-lived”.
He added there was no evidence of pre-meditation.
The prosecutor told the court Robert Owens pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He added there was no evidence of pre-meditation.
The prosecutor told the court Robert Owens pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Victim had paid for chainsaw
The court heard the chainsaw was bought from Blackwood Chainsaws in 2014 by the defendant and paid for by Iris Owens.
The prosecutor said “it appears to have excellent safety features.”
The prosecutor said “it appears to have excellent safety features.”
'I'm going to jail'
Robert Owens was arrested on suspicion of murder at 6pm.
The court heard he said: “I know, I’m going to jail.
“I can’t believe this has happened. I was just chopping wood.
“Why did this have to happen?”
The prosecutor said he later told officers: “I didn’t mean to kill my mother.
“I was chopping wood pallets and she fell off on to my saw.”
The court heard he said: “I know, I’m going to jail.
“I can’t believe this has happened. I was just chopping wood.
“Why did this have to happen?”
The prosecutor said he later told officers: “I didn’t mean to kill my mother.
“I was chopping wood pallets and she fell off on to my saw.”
Traces of drugs in defendant's system
The defendant claimed his mother had “gone berserk”.
When asked about his medical history Owens said he was a heroin addict and had taken heroin around midnight.
Samples revealed the defendant had recently taken heroin and cocaine.
When asked about his medical history Owens said he was a heroin addict and had taken heroin around midnight.
Samples revealed the defendant had recently taken heroin and cocaine.
'She's gone mad. She's not breathing'
The defendant called for an ambulance at 5.21pm.
He said: “My mother just went mad. I was chainsawing some wood. She’s gone mad. She’s not breathing. I’ve got to give her the kiss of life. She ain’t doing nothing.”
Two paramedics arrived and saw the defendant had blood on his hands.
The court heard Ms Owens was lying on her back in the garden.
The paramedics noted she had a black eye and laceration to her neck.
She was pronounced dead at 5.42pm.
He said: “My mother just went mad. I was chainsawing some wood. She’s gone mad. She’s not breathing. I’ve got to give her the kiss of life. She ain’t doing nothing.”
Two paramedics arrived and saw the defendant had blood on his hands.
The court heard Ms Owens was lying on her back in the garden.
The paramedics noted she had a black eye and laceration to her neck.
She was pronounced dead at 5.42pm.
Victim seen hanging out the washing
The court heard that on the day of the incident Iris Owens attended a church service.
In the afternoon a delivery driver tried to deliver a parcel but the defendant would not accept it.
Ms Owens attended a fracture clinic regarding a previously fractured ankle.
Just after 5pm she was seen hanging out washing in her garden.
A witness heard the sound of a chainsaw coming from the garden.
In the afternoon a delivery driver tried to deliver a parcel but the defendant would not accept it.
Ms Owens attended a fracture clinic regarding a previously fractured ankle.
Just after 5pm she was seen hanging out washing in her garden.
A witness heard the sound of a chainsaw coming from the garden.
'Robert and his mum were close'
The prosecutor is now reading statements from witnesses regarding the relationship between Iris Owens and her son.
One said: “I would describe her relationship with Robert as very motherly.
“I would describe him as odd, but not scary odd.”
She described him as “sometimes like a child who wanted attention.
“There never seemed to be any problems with them living together.
“Robert and his mum were close.”
One said: “I would describe her relationship with Robert as very motherly.
“I would describe him as odd, but not scary odd.”
She described him as “sometimes like a child who wanted attention.
“There never seemed to be any problems with them living together.
“Robert and his mum were close.”
Victim was an 'immensely kind' widow
She was a widow with two children.
After her husband died, she moved to an address in Abercycnon and her son moved in with her.
The prosecutor said she was an “active and independent lady”.
She worked as a volunteer at the Well Of Hope charity shop and attended Welsh Classes.
She was also a member of a historical society and a bilingual tour guide.
The court heard she was an active member of the Church Of Wales.
One friend described her as “immensely kind, very well educated, always willing to help other and take people under her wing”.
After her husband died, she moved to an address in Abercycnon and her son moved in with her.
The prosecutor said she was an “active and independent lady”.
She worked as a volunteer at the Well Of Hope charity shop and attended Welsh Classes.
She was also a member of a historical society and a bilingual tour guide.
The court heard she was an active member of the Church Of Wales.
One friend described her as “immensely kind, very well educated, always willing to help other and take people under her wing”.
Defendant 'killed his mother with a chainsaw'
Prosecutor Christopher Clee is now opening the case.
The court heard the defendant murdered her in the garden with a chainsaw.
Iris Owens was 75 when she died.
The court heard the defendant murdered her in the garden with a chainsaw.
Iris Owens was 75 when she died.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-man-who-admitted-12101611
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