GUILTY UK - Sir Richard Sutton, 83, murdered, Anne Schreiber, 65, wounded, Dorset, 7 Apr 2021

  • #101
11:48am

Mr Crooks said marks on the stairs show Sir Richard going up them.

11:52am

Mr Crooks says there are very faint marks on the landing upstairs.

11:52am

Footprints upstairs are consistent with being left by Thomas Schreiber, the court heard.

11:54am

Mr Crooks says at a point on the landing the sole of the shoe "has been exposed in more blood" leaving clearer impressions than those that were seen in earlier photographs on the staircase and at the top of the stairs on the landing.


12:00pm

Mr Feest QC gets confirmation from Mr Crooks that the movement of Sir Richard is believed to be from the kitchen at the end of the island through to the pantry with multiple impressions by the desk and the chair. No footmarks which describe the reverse movement back along the pantry were found but there were then shoe and footmarks describing going out of the kitchen and then going up the stairs.

12:01pm

In relation to the defendant, Mr Crooks agrees there were some marks in the pantry, going up the main stairs becoming less distinct, but his shoes at the end of the upstairs corridor, where Sir Richard was found, left a much heavier print.

12:05pm

Mr Crooks is now talking about faint marks left on the carpet in the study.

12:07pm

It is a limited evaluation, but based on features in some of the impressions, Mr Crooks says it would follow that these are impressions are by the defendant, based on the footwear he has been asked to consider and this case, and they were left after his shoes became wet with blood.

12:08pm

That concludes Mr Crooks evidence with no questions under cross examination from Joe Stone QC.



LIVE: Forensic scientist's footprint evidence in Sir RIchard Sutton murder trial
 
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  • #102
12:12pm

The next witness is Jamie Burke, a forensic scientist, who will provide evidence on blood patterns.

Mr Burke attended Moorhill on April 8 and April 9 - the days after the incident.

12:23pm

Mr Burke explains to the jury how blood pattern analysis is carried out.

12:27pm

He is talking through the various types of stain that can be identified at scenes.

12:31pm

Attention now turns to the scene at Moorhill.

12:33pm

Mr Burke says drips of blood were found in the conservatory.

The court hears these came when police officers carried Anne Schreiber out of the property after the incident.

12:45pm

The court hears that broken glass was found on the chair in the study and around this room.

Mr Burke said he is cautious about analysis of blood found on fragments of the broken glass.

What was believed to be skin was found on a glass fragment and a DNA profile analysis showed this came from Sir Richard.

Mr Burke says this leads to the suggestion the glass was used to injure Sir Richard in some way.

Pattern analysis of blood on a cupboard door was a DNA match for Sir Richard, the court is told.

Blood distribution on the floor is drips of blood, Mr Burke says.

12:46pm

Large blood stains were found on the arm of the chair in the study. Again this was a DNA match for Sir Richard.

12:48pm

Mr Burke's evidence now moves to the scene in the kitchen.

12:50pm

Images shown to the jury show a TV screen, handbag and broken head of a walking stick on the floor.

12:51pm

Mr Burke says there was heavy blood staining on the floor and back of the TV monitor.

12:52pm

The pooling of blood suggests someone was on the floor and bleeding out, says Mr Burke.

12:54pm

The court is told heavy contact staining and projected blood was found in the kitchen.

12:58pm

DNA analysis of blood on a kitchen cupboard showed it was that of Anne Schreiber.


12:59pm

Some of the blood on the floor of the kitchen was identified as Sir Richard's, the court is told.

1:00pm

We will now break for lunch and return at 2pm, with further evidence from Mr Burke.


LIVE: Forensic scientist's footprint evidence in Sir RIchard Sutton murder trial
 
  • #103
2:07pm

Mr Burke has resumed giving evidence.

2:27pm

The witness is continuing to provide details on blood patterns found downstairs at Moorhill.

2:32pm

Blood patterns downstairs stopped at the pantry, Mr Burke says.

2:33pm

Some blood drips on the floor contained the defendant's DNA, the court is told.

2:33pm

Attention now turns to the area just outside the kitchen.

2:36pm

Blood found in this area matched the DNA of Thomas Schreiber.

2:37pm

Now looking at the stairs, there are footwear marks of someone going up the stairs and drips to suggest they are injured and bleeding, Mr Burke says.

2:38pm

There is a blood "contact stain" of someone likely to be brushing against a wall alongside the stairs, the jury hears.

2:40pm

Mr Burke confirms his attention upstairs focused on an area at the end of the upstairs corridor.

2:41pm

There is a projected pattern of blood staining on a cupboard door, Mr Burke says.

2:41pm

On the carpet there is blood pooling and contact staining, the court is told.

2:43pm

The blood spot on the turn of the stairs contained DNA from Thomas Schreiber, Mr Burke confirms.

LIVE: Jury shown images of bloodied rooms in Sir RIchard Sutton murder trial
 
  • #104
2:47pm

Focus has now gone back to the area at the end of the corridor.

2:50pm

There is contact staining on the middle part of the cupboard door, some of which appears to show potential finger marks, Mr Burke says.

2:53pm

The frame around this door has further contact staining, the jury is told. This blood can be attributed to Thomas Schreiber and it appears to be a hand mark.

It also contained DNA, at a lower level, which could be seen separately and could be from Sir Richard Sutton.

Mr Burke says this could be from skin cells and it is not possible to be certain it was from Sir Richard's blood.

2:57pm

Mr Burke confirms when he saw Sir Richard body, his right foot was socked with no footwear and on the left he had a slipper or shoe.

The sole of the right sock and left shoe/slipper were blood stained.


3:00pm

There appeared to be a trail of blood as someone moved to the en suite bathroom, Mr Burke tells the court.

3:02pm

Jurors are shown a picture of a walking stick, with its head missing, by a sink, which contained blood.

3:02pm

The stick is almost "entirely covered with blood", says Mr Burke.

3:03pm

There was a mixed DNA profile at the top of the stick, with Sir Richard Sutton and Thomas Schreiber.


3:03pm

The middle and lower sections had blood, which contained Sir Richard's DNA.

3:04pm

There was also hair on the stick and Mr Burke said analysing DNA from the hairs can be difficult.

3:04pm

There was a major hair contribution from Sir Richard but also a possible contribution from Thomas Schreiber and Anne Schreiber, the court is told.

3:11pm

A trail of blood led along an upstairs corridor to the annex, Mr Burke says.


LIVE: Jury shown images of bloodied rooms in Sir RIchard Sutton murder trial
 
  • #105
3:16pm

In the annex different blood patterns were located.

Jurors are shown a picture of a knife in a sink, with blood staining present.

3:17pm

Blood on a tap above this sink was that of Thomas Schreiber, the court is told.

3:18pm

Blood spots in the room with the pool table carpet was also the defendant's, Mr Burke confirms.

3:42pm

There was contact staining on stairs down from the annex and the door to outside the property.

3:44pm

Outside, there was a trail linking the rear door to the pantry door and to the garage, the court hears.

3:48pm

Mr Burke is now being asked about a bloodied shirt that was recovered.

DNA from Sir Richard Sutton and Anne Schreiber was found, the court is told.

3:49pm

Another shirt was found, which also had blood stains and spots.

All blood tested appeared to come from Thomas Schreiber on this shirt, Mr Burke tells the court.

3:54pm

Mr Burke is now being asked about a knife, which had blood on it.

3:55pm

The blood pattern on the knife was indicitive of someone being stabbed, Mr Burke says. Blood on the tip of the blade had DNA from Anne Schreiber.

3:58pm

Traces of the defendant's DNA was found on the handle of this knife.

4:01pm

Now focus switches to a second knife which was found upstairs in an upstairs sink.

This was blood stained on both sides, Mr Burke confirms.

4:02pm

Mr Burke tells the court fatty tissue was present on the blade, which matched the DNA of Sir Richard Sutton and blood on the butt of the handle had DNA from the defendant, as well as a minor contribution from Sir Richard.

4:03pm

Mr Burke says the presence of this fatty tissue is indicative of someone being attacked with the knife.

4:04pm

A knife on the floor of the kitchen had no clear pattern of being used to attack someone, Mr Burke said.


LIVE: Jury shown images of bloodied rooms in Sir RIchard Sutton murder trial
 
  • #106
4:12pm

Joe Stone QC is now cross examining Mr Burke.

4:13pm

Thomas Schreiber doesn't dispute that he stabbed his mother and Sir Richard at Moorhill, Mr Stone QC, who is representing the defendant, says.

4:24pm

Joe Stone QC (JC): Would you agree that the bloodstain pattern analysis is consistent with Sir Richard and Anne Schreiber bleeding in the kitchen?

Jamie Burke (JB): Yes.

JC: Would you agree that the bloodstain pattern analysis is consistent with Sir Richard bleeding in the study?

JB: Yes.

JC: Would you agree that the bloodstain pattern analysis is consistent with Sir Richard bleeding in the upstairs landing outside master bedroom?

JB: Yes.

Would you agree the bloodstain pattern analysis is consistent to linking Thomas Schreiber to the kitchen, the study and outside the master bedroom?

JB: Yes, if you use footwear marks as well.

Would you agree is consistent with Thomas Schreiber being cut and sustaining an injury before he went upstairs

Yes

JC: It is not possible from the bloodstain pattern analysis to say how long the incident lasted?

JB: Yes, it is not possible.

JC: It is not possible to say there is a time gap between downstairs and upstairs?

JB: The only time gap I can be sure of is the time it takes to get upstairs.

4:31pm

Mr Burke's evidence has concluded and that finishes today's proceedings.

The trial is adjourned until 10am tomorrow.

LIVE: Jury shown images of bloodied rooms in Sir RIchard Sutton murder trial
 
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  • #107
Photographs of the kitchen showed a bloodstained floor, with kitchen cabinets also stained with blood after the attack in April of this year.

Forensic scientist Martin Crooks said both the defendant’s and Sir Richard’s footprints could be seen in the blood but none of Ms Schreiber’s were found.

He said footprints from both Sir Richard and the defendant were also found in the pantry, the study, on the stairs and upstairs.

Mr Crooks said the footprints suggested Sir Richard had lost his right shoe by the time he reached upstairs, with marks from his sock visible on the carpet.

[...]

The prosecutor said a post-mortem examination of Sir Richard’s body and an examination of the “extensively bloodstained scene” suggested he was attacked downstairs.

He then managed to go upstairs, possibly to make an emergency call, where, after a “pause” in the violence, he was attacked again and died, Mr Feest said.

Photos of bloodstained Dorset mansion shown to murder trial jury | ITV News
 
  • #108
Juliet Pentolfe, Sir Richard’s personal assistant for six years, said that on one occasion she walked in on the defendant angrily shouting at his mother.

She said: “Tom was shouting at his mother saying she was living with one of the wealthiest men in England and why couldn’t she get him to pay for things – I had thought Tom meant for himself.”

[...]

Ms Pentolfe said: “Sir Richard said to me he thought Tom should have a van because Tom has started painting these enormous canvases and he thought a little van would accommodate the canvases.”

[...]

Ms Pentolfe said that she saw the defendant at about 4.30pm on the day of the killing and said he appeared to be in a “good mood” before adding: “I thought he looked quite cheery, he was quite fresh looking.”

--

PC Kane Ellafi told the court he was involved in detaining the defendant after his car was stopped in central London following a 135mph police chase.

more to read at link
Man accused of murdering millionaire ‘shouted at mother over funding’, jury told
 
  • #109
Moment armed police stormed £2m country mansion to find alleged murderer's mother in pool of blood | Daily Mail Online


Footage released today shows the dramatic moment armed police stormed a £2 million country mansion to find the mother of an alleged murderer in a pool of blood after being stabbed several times.

Firearms officers smashed through the conservatory of the sprawling Moorhill estate near Gillingham, Dorset with a crowbar after spotting Anne Schreiber bleeding out on the kitchen floor through a window.

The body-worn footage, released for the first time today, is cut short just before the officers entered the kitchen and discovered gravely injured Mrs Schreiber.

One of the armed Dorset Police officers who stormed the house, PC George Bryant, said Mrs Schreiber's knife wounds were so severe he thought she had been blasted with a shotgun.

Her son Thomas Schreiber, 35, is accused of her attempted murder and the murder of Sir Richard Sutton, 83, her partner and one of Britain's richest landowners.

Anne was paralysed in the attack and remains in hospital seven months later.
 
  • #110
  • #111
10:11am

Rob Welling, who assists lead prosecutor Adam Feest QC, is reading out a series of agreed facts to the jury.


10:14am

These facts include confirmation of when photographs were taken by officers at Moorhill and the scene in London where the defendant was stopped by police.

10:18am

Thomas Schreiber was arrested on the Chiswick High Road in London on the night of April 7, the jury is told.

10:19am

He was transported to Bournemouth Police Station, Mr Welling says.

When asked how he was when in his custody cell, the defendant: "It is all very regrettable now."

10:20am

Mr Welling tells the jury the defendant pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.

Thomas Schreiber pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

10:24am

The court is told that shortly after 7pm on April 7 the defendant transferred £54,000 from one of his Barclays bank accounts to his other account.

He then sent £30,000 to his then girlfriend Sathia Pagliuca, Mr Welling says.

10:28am

Mr Feest QC now calls the officer in the case DS David Colomb to give evidence.

LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 
  • #112
10:29am

The defendant was interviewed under caution on April 10, DS Colomb confirms.

10:34am

Mr Feest QC is asking the detective about the defendant's police interview.

10:34am

When asked if he could explain how Sir Richard Sutton got stab wounds, the defendant said: "No, I can't."

10:43am

The defendant largely went no comment in interview.

10:43am

DS Colomb's evidence is concluded and that completes the prosecution's case.


LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 
  • #113
10:43am

Defending barrister Joe Stone QC calls the defendant to give evidence.

10:45am

Thomas Shcreiber confirms his name, age, and that he was living at Moorhill.

He also confirms the names of his mother and sisters.

10:47am

The defendant is stood in the witness box wearing a dark blue suit.

The court hears the defendant has had about 35 jobs, including internships and work placements, some ranging from one day to others up to a year.

"I am absolutely passionate about art," says Thomas Schreiber. "I love it very much."

He says "it is what gets me up in the morning, frankly".

The defendant says he has a passion for music and cinema.

10:48am

Thomas Schreiber says his parents formally divorced in around 2005/2006.

10:49am

The defendant says the family home was in Stalbridge Weston when he was 16. He lived with his sister Rose, his mother and his dad. His sister Louisa was away at university.

10:52am

Asked about his relationship with his father, the defendant says: "It was fantastic."

He tells the court his father David Schreiber could be dramatic, theatrical, depressive.

Thomas Schreiber describes David Schreiber as a "functional" alcoholic until Anne Schreiber and the children moved to Moorhill at which point he became a "dysfunctional" alcohol[ic].

10:54am

On moving to Moorhill, Thomas Schreiber said: "I mean for a 16-year-old it was quite exciting - the prospect of moving into a new house with a swimming pool."

The defendant said he was very unhappy about not moving as a whole family.

David Schreiber stayed at the family home and did not go to Moorhill, the court is told.

Thomas Schreiber says there was a lack of communication so he felt unaware about what was going on with the move to Moorhill.

10:55am

The defendant says his father moved to Moorhill in late 2012. He was there for about three months, the jury is told.


10:56am

The defendant says between 2003 and 2012 he would see his father as much as possible.

10:59am

On his father's death, the defendant says he felt "incredibly guilty" and "a great deal of shame personally".

Asked why he felt guilty, Thomas Schreiber tells the court he felt the family could have all tried to do more to help with David Schreiber's depression and alcohol issues.

On why he felt shame, the defendant says: "I felt quite powerless. I was struggling with work. I couldn't support him financially and we lived a mile away in this huge house and I felt we failed dad as a family unit that was there to support one another."

10:59am

The defendant tells the court he would always have a drink to his father on the date of his death - April 7.

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  • #114
10:59am

Thomas Schreiber says he and his mother we not close and they did not confide in each other.

11:01am

Thomas Schreiber says he and Sir Richard Sutton didn't have a great deal in common with one another.

11:02am

He confirms Sir Richard gave him £100,000 inheritance in around 2015 to buy a house.

The defendant says this was an "incredible thing" and that he was grateful for it.

11:03am

Thomas Schreiber said he was also grateful for the £1,000 monthly allowance from Sir Richard.

11:03am

The defendant said he never used Sir Richard's Aston Martin but had used his Range Rover.

11:05am

The defendant says he fell in love 2015 who he met in London. He and his then girlfriend moved to Melbourne, Australia.
11:05am

Thomas Schreiber said he mainly supported himself during this time through Sir Richard's monthly allowance.

11:06am

Depression started to kick in quite heavily in 2017 and 2018, the defendant says.

11:07am

Thomas Schreiber said his mother's visit to Australia was unsuccessful.

11:08am

He says he broke up with the "love of my life" six weeks before Anne Schreiber came to visit him.

11:09am

He tells the court he encouraged his mother via text message not to come to Australia due to the mental health issues at the time but he felt guilty about this and changed his mind.

11:09am

Thomas Schreiber returned to the UK in January 2019.

Three years was enough in Australia, the defendant tells the court.


LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 
  • #115
11:11am

He says he sought support for his mental health on his return to the UK.

His mother gave him the number of counsellor Francis Licorish, who he saw.

Thomas Schreiber said he also saw an educational psychologist in April 2019.

11:11am

The defendant says the incident after Wincanton races was on Boxing Day 2017.


11:18am

Thomas Schreiber is asked about this incident.

The defendant said he got in a dispute with his sister's over driving to a party engagement.

He said he started shoting at his sister Rose and she was shouting back.

Thomas Schreiber said he might have punched her in the head or arm, he might have strangled her.

His siblings retaliated before the his sister's partner Joe took him outside, the court hears.

The defendant said he apologised to his sister's partner in the driveway and then Louisa came outside and started shouting at him.

The defendant told the court: "Richard came outside and just charged at me. Tried to punch at me in the face and I missed it and I punched him in the face and he fell in the flower bed and then I was seperated again. That was the end of the fighting. Lots of apologies were made."

11:18am

Asked about assaulting his mother the defendant said he punched her and pulled her hair but felt very guilty for this afterwards, hit himself and encouraged his mother to hit him.



LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 
  • #116
11:20am

Now onto the arugment with his siblings which was sparked by discussions of inheriting a chandelier from their grandmother.

11:22am

Thomas Schreiber says his sister Louisa chased him at Moorhill.

"She just wouldn't stop," says the defendnat.

He said he slapped her in the face and they continued to fight.

There was a scrap in the conservatory and Sir Richard "came up behind me and hit me with his cane", the court is told.

Thomas Schreiber said the blow to the back was forceful enough to send him to the ground.

11:24am

The defendant said he felt "awful" and it had been "horror show".

He says his mother claimed he was "putting on the water works".

Thomas Schreiber confirms he was crying and that he was "completely traumatised"

"I was traumatised by that event," he tells the court.

He adds: "It was the fact they didn't acknolwedge that anyone had done anything wrong. After that there was just complete silence."

Asked if it was a watershed moment for the Schreiber family, the defendant says it was for him.

"I closed myself off completely," he adds.

11:24am

After this incident the defendant says things were "rock bottom" for the family.

11:26am

Asked about his mental state between November 2020 and April 2021, the defendnat says: "I was really struggling and every day was a constant struggle."

11:26am

"It was really, really bad," he adds.

11:27am

The defendant said before lockdown he would negate negative feelings by seeing friends, travelling and by doing things.

"Lockdown put a magnifying glass on my mental health and it shone a big light upon it," he says.

11:29am

Thomas Schreiber says he thinks Covid had a detrimental impact on his mental health because the opportunity to get out became less and less due to the restrictions.

"Home life was very much a pressure cooker anyway, but it got worse and worse," he adds.

LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 
  • #117
11:52am

Joe Stone QC, defending, is asking Thomas Schreiber about internet history which involved the defendant accessing mental health support services and materials.

11:55am

Asked about searches around negative thoughts, the defendant says: "I was struggling with my own thoughts and I was losing control of my thoughts at times when I shouldn't be. It was a distraction and it was unwelcome.

"I didn't want these thoughts in my head and I wanted them to stop."

11:55am

"I was struggling and I was looking for answers," he adds.

11:57am

After the incident in which Sir Richad hit him with a cane, on December 12, 2020, he accessed a webpage about toxic relationships with parents. The defendant says he was confused and looking for answers in how to cope with these potential things.

12:00pm

In early March 2021, the defendant had internet activity relating to "revenge on gold-digging mother". He said he was trying to explore the psychology behind revenge.

12:01pm

Later that month he was searching for family counselling.

"I needed to organise it and find out a way to organise it," he tells the court.

12:02pm

"I had a desire to get counselling with my family," says the defendant. "We have never had family counselling as a family and we needed it - I needed it."

He says there had been so much left unsaid which needed to be discussed.

12:05pm

In late March, the internet activity related to "dark thoughts."

"I was having dark thoughts, unwelcomed thoughts and I was trying to understand what these thoughts were," says the defendant.

"I started researching and asking my friends about it as a cry for help."

Thomas Schreiber said he is interested in psychology, human nature and human behaviour and he recognised that his thoughts were not normal thoughts to have. he says he wanted to quash them.

12:06pm

The defendant says he was not well, he needed help and he turned to the internet for guidance.

12:07pm

On April 6 his internet activity related to "hidden upsides of revenge".

The defendant tells the court he wanted to know what the philosophy behind revenge was.

12:08pm

"All I could seem to concentrate on was negative thoughts," says the defendant.

He says he used the internet as a "sounding board" to tackle this.

12:09pm

"I am very interested in why I was having these thoughts, what does it mean and trying to understand them," Thomas Schreiber tells the court.

12:10pm

The defendant says again he was trying to understand his emotions and he wanted to stop the negative thoughts.

12:10pm

Mr Stone QC moves on to WhatApp messages, which were referenced in the prosecutions case.



LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 
  • #118
12:11pm

We start with the defendant's exchanges with his girlfriend at the time Sathia Pagliuca.

12:12pm

The court hears the defendant sent a message in January saying "I honestly want to burn the house down with all the adults inside".

Asked why he sent this, Thomas Schreiber says: "I had quite a few demonic thoughts that would come and go in my mind."

He says sometimes they would linger longer than normal but he would dismiss them.

"I did not want them there," he adds.

12:13pm

Now messages between the defendant and his "good friend" James Reid.

12:15pm

Thomas Schreiber tells the court Mr Reid "is someone I looked up to a great, great deal".

"I was reaching out to him as a call for help," the defendant says.

12:16pm

Thomas Schreiber accepts the evidence earlier in the trial from Ms Pagliuca in which she said that he told her he wanted to shoot his mother and Sir Richard in the face with a gun.

He says he confided in her as a call for help.

12:17pm

Asked about his overall messages and searches on revenge, the defendant said he did not have forumlated plan or dsire to hurt anyone.

"It was a cry for help," he adds."

12:17pm

We now move on to events of April 7, 2021, the day of Sir Richard Sutton's death.

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  • #119
12:19pm

Thomas Schreiber says he went to the grave of David Schreiber - his father - on what was the eighth anniversary of his death. This was at about 11am. He spent five or 10 minutes there "very quitely".

The defendant says after this he either went back to Moorhill or to a shop to buy food for dinner.

12:20pm

In the afternoon, the defendant said he was in a good mood.

12:22pm

He had a gin and tonic around 4.30pm/5pm.

"I had had quite a good day," the defendant says.

12:22pm

Asked if he went downstairs at Moorhill, Thomas Schreiber says: "I went into the office to see Richard and asked him if he would like to have a drink with me and mum to celebrate dad's anniversary."

12:25pm

After putting out some "nibbles in the kitchen" and pouring himself and Sir Richard a glass of wine, the defendant had "small talk" in the office with Sir Richard.

The conversation included memories of David Schreiber - the defendant's father.

12:25pm

Thomas Schreiber says Sir Richard agreed to a toast to David Schreiber but he wanted to wait for Anne Schreiber.

12:27pm

The defendant says he was sat "very peacefully" with Sir Richard in the office when his mother came in.

He asked her about the toast and she said "you're drunk, you're drunk just like your father", Thomas Schreiber tells the court.

He said that he responded by shouting "I'm not, I'm not drunk".

The defendant said he followed her into the kitchen and hit her.

12:28pm

He says he then saw a knife on the island in the kitchen and "I just went completely crazy".

12:28pm

He says he heard a voice going "attack, attack, attack".

12:28pm

He says he picked up the night [knife?] and started attacking his mum.

12:29pm

The defendant says Sir Richard came in and he thinks he started attacking him.

12:29pm

He says his mum told him to stop but "I couldn't stop".

12:30pm

Asked why he was stabbing them, Thomas Schreiber said: "I don't know. I wasn't thinking. I couldn't control myself. I couldn't physically control myself."

12:30pm

"I wasn't drunk and I wasn't a drunk like my father," he tells the court.

"After she said that I couldn't physically stop what I was doing."

12:31pm

Asked if wanted to stab his mother, he says no.

"I did not want to hurt my mother," he added.

He says he wanted to make her proud.

12:32pm

The defendant says there was no choice.

"I couldn't physically stop what I was doing," the defendant says.

12:32pm

Thomas Schreiber says he could not ignore the comment by his mother.

He says he is sensitive man, adding that he is "extra sensitive" when it came to his father.

12:32pm

"I just completely lost it and I went completely crazy," the defendant says.

"We were supposed to have a nice drink together."

12:33pm

He says if his mother had not made that comment he would not have stabbed her.

"Richard and I were sat very peacefully," says Thomas Schreiber. "You must understand that."


12:35pm

Thomas Schreiber says when Sir Richard came into the kitchen he was stabbing his mother.

12:36pm

The defendant emotionally says again that he just could not stop what he was doing.

12:37pm

"I just couldn't stop attacking them. I remember attacking my mum in the kitchen. I remember at some point my mum stabbing me in the hand," the defendant says.

He goes on to say he attacked her again.

12:37pm

He says his mother stabbed him when he was attacking Sir Richard in the kitchen.

12:38pm

"I went into the kitchen and stabbed my mum and I couldn't stop," says the defendant.

"I don't recall Richard going upstairs but I do recall stabbing him in the kitchen a lot and in the study a lot."

12:38pm

"And I killed my family," says the defendant.

12:39pm

Thomas Schreiber said he doesn't recall attacking Sir Richard upstairs. He recalls going upstairs later.

12:39pm

He says he remembers going upstairs later to go to his bedroom.

12:41pm

He is asked what his next memory is after stabbing his mother and Sir Richard downstairs.

"I remember sitting on the green sofa in the kitchen," he says. "In total shock."

12:42pm

"I just sat there in complete horror, in complete shock and just tried to bring my thoughts together," the defendant says.

12:42pm

The defendant says he didn't want to hurt Sir Richard or his mother.

12:43pm

He says Sir Richard did not hurt or provoke him.


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  • #120
12:43pm

"I was covered in blood," the defendant tells the court.

12:43pm

He says he tried to change into another shirt but couldn't get his hand through the sleeve so he put a t-shirt on.

12:45pm

Mr Stone QC asks the defendant about a knife in the kitchen in the annex which had Sir Richard's blood on it.

Thomas Schreiber says he does not recall using any other knife other than the one on the island but admits he might have picked up another knife as everything was "so crazy".

12:46pm

The defendant said he remembers having one knife and "going absolutely crazy".

He repeats he could have picked up another knife but he doesn't remember this.

12:47pm

Thomas Schreiber confirms there was a packed suitcase upstairs permanently.

12:49pm

The defendant said the suitcase was packed the previous Christmas for a trip to Panama, which was cancelled, and he never unpacked it as he had another trip planned in the summer.

12:50pm

Asked why he took a phone charger with him, the defendant said he wanted to make phone calls and say his "goodbyes" and he didn't want his phone to run out of phone battery before doing this.

12:50pm

Thomas Schreiber said he instinctively picked up the suitcase and his two passports.

12:51pm

He says he took a knife with him as he wanted to end his life "out of respect for the pain, the horrors I had just caused".

12:54pm

Asked where he was intending to drive to having left Moorhill in Sir Richard's Range Rover, the defendant says "nowhere really".

12:55pm

The defendant is asked about the phone calls he made to friends and siblings after the incident at Moorhill.

12:58pm

Thomas Schreiber confirms he stabbed himself while police pursued him and after they stopped him.

1:00pm

The defendant says a solicitor advised him to go no comment in his police interview.

1:01pm

Asked why he was trying to call his sister Louisa while remanded in custody, Thomas Schreiber said he was desperate to find out how his mother was doing in as no one would tell him.

1:02pm

Joe Stone QC says he has completed his initial line of questioning.

Prosecutor Adam Feest QC is expected to cross examine the defendant this afternoon.

But first we will take a break for lunch.



LIVE: Murder accused tells court 'I couldn't control myself' during knife attack
 

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