Man sentenced for killing his mother

A 22-year-old man from Crowlas, Penzance has today, Friday 14 January, was given an indeterminate hospital order for manslaughter and unlawful wounding.

Jacob Poynton-Whiting, of Tregender Lane, appeared at Truro Crown Court and pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old Sally Poynton in Crowlas on Tuesday 22 June 2021.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding.

He was given an indeterminate hospital order under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act.

Police were called by the ambulance service to Crowlas, near Penzance, on Tuesday 22 June, following reports that a man had attacked his mother with a knife.

Mrs Poynton sustained a serious knife wound to her leg before Poynton-Whiting was forced out of the house by a male relative who lived at the property, who also sustained a serious injury during the struggle.

The male relative dialled 999 and when he was on the line to the ambulance service, Poynton-Whiting broke a window to get back into the house and attacked his mother again.

In the second attack, Mrs Poynton sustained a serious wound to her neck and she was pronounced dead at 7.25am by paramedics, who had responded to the emergency call.

Poynton-Whiting was arrested at the scene by police officers and taken into custody.

He was charged with murder but following psychiatric evaluations, the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter, when he appeared at Truro Crown Court on Monday 13 December 2021.

Detective Sergeant Nige Green, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “The family and friends of Sally have had to endure the most tragic loss imaginable and in the saddest of circumstances. I would like to thank them for their dignified assistance in the investigation and my thoughts, and those of the entire investigation team, are with them at this time.

“I believe that this is the best outcome in the circumstances to enable Jacob to receive the help he needs.”

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