Murder victim's mum in mercy plea (From Worcester News)

Murder victim's mum in mercy plea

3:10pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News

THE mother of a murder victim made a plea for mercy to be extended to her son’s killer for what she termed “a tragic accident”.

The words of Barbara Troughton, aged 86, were read at Worcester Crown Court before Judge Robert Juckes jailed her nephew Roger Troughton, 74, for 12 years.

The cattle farmer, of Wood Street Farm, Wood Street, Bushley, near Upton-upon-Severn, was convicted of the murder of his 59-year-old cousin Robin after an eight-day trial.

He hit his mentally ill-cousin twice on the head with a spade in his mother’s garden after becoming increasingly angry over his difficult behaviour.

He had admitted killing his cousin on Mother’s Day 2010 but denied murder, saying there was no intent to kill.

In a statement, Mrs Troughton said she did not want Roger Troughton to receive any greater sentence than the minimum he would receive under the justice system.

She said: “Of course the death of Robin has had an impact on the family and his loss is great but I feel the whole incident was a tragic accident.

“It is my opinion Roger has already received enough punishment for what occurred and I understand under law he had to be dealt with the way he was.

“But if he were now released from prison following trial, neither I nor Tim [her son and the defendant’s other cousin] would have any objection.”

Mrs Troughton was not among the relatives who packed the public gallery. Other relatives declined to comment.

Nine of the original jury members returned to court for the sentencing and were complimented by the judge for rejecting the suggestion Robin Troughton, who lived at the Cowshed, the Ramplings, Longdon, near Upton, had armed himself with tree loppers before he was killed.

He said Roger Troughton had abandoned the suggestion Robin was armed in his last words of his evidence.

Catastrophic head injuries were caused by the assault with the fencing spade on the lawn of Paynes Place in Bushley. The victim died in hospital 19 days later.

The judge said it was clear Robin Troughton, who was part-owner of Paynes Place, had broken in and trashed the home while his mother was in respite care.

Roger Troughton had been involved in clearing up the damage caused by his mentally ill cousin and there was an angry confrontation before the assault.

Defence barrister Rex Tedd submitted that there had been no premeditation before the attack and that the defendant had not armed himself. The spade was always kept in his low loader.

Mr Tedd said that Troughton had suffered from a momentary loss of self-control.

He urged the judge to show lenience because of the defendant’s age.

Research showed that a man of 74 had a life expectancy of 14 more years.

The judge agreed that Troughton had been acting out of character. All the prosecution witnesses had emphasised that he was a good neighbour and supportive friend.

He had set the minimum term of the sentence as 15 years but in view of the defendant’s age and excellent character, the appropriate tariff for the life sentence would be 12 years.

The 272 days already spent in custody would be deducted.