Court hears Outgate man admit to his mother's manslaughter (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Court hears Outgate man admit to his mother's manslaughter

4:07pm Monday 26th November 2012 in News

A MAN has admitted killing his mother at the Cumbrian home they shared together.

Robert Adam Pierre Archbold was charged after 77-year-old retired vet Jane Archbold died from serious injuries inflicted on her in Outgate, near Hawkshead, on August 21.

The 48-year-old, dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt, and with his beard tied in a long plait, made a 12-minute appearance before Cumbria’s top judge, Paul Batty QC, at Carlisle Crown Court today.

Leaning forward so that his forehead rested on the glass panel at the front of the dock, he pleaded guilty to his mother’s manslaughter but not guilty to the more serious charge of murdering her.

The prosecution said those pleas were not acceptable, so he will have to face trial on the murder charge next year.

Defence barrister Richard Pratt QC made no application for bail so Archbold was remanded in custody. His trial was provisionally set to start on April 22.

It is expected to last up to seven days.