A son who smothered his dementia-suffering mother to death has been spared jail after a judge described the killing as an “act of mercy”.
Kevin Pearce, 60, admitted killing his mother Eileen, 89, at their family home, having given up his career ten years earlier to become her full-time carer.
The prosecution dropped a murder charge when Pearce pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey.
Judge Alexia Durran told Pearce during an emotional sentencing hearing, “Your actions can be characterised as an act of mercy,” and said she accepted he believed that “death was the only solution”.
However, the judge said “mercy killing” was not recognised as a defence for homicide and she was required to pass an
