Mother shot dead by son, court told

A mother was shot dead at point-blank range by her son in her Staffordshire home, a court heard.

Childminder Susan Gray had confided in a community nurse that she was concerned about her 28-year-old son Joseph in the weeks before her death, a jury heard. She said he had been "acting strange" and appeared to be blaming her for something.

Mrs Gray, 47, was discovered by neighbours at the foot of the stairs in her home in Oxford Gardens, Stafford. She had been shot in the face at point-blank range.

Mr Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court yesterday she had been shot with a shotgun by her son in the early hours of October 27 last year.

Gray, aged 28, formerly of Sandyford Court, Stafford, was charged with murder but has been ruled unfit to stand trial and is not attending the crown court hearing.

Neighbour

Judge Simon Tonking told the jury their task is to decide whether or not Gray carried out the shooting.

Mr Shakoor said that at around 2am on October 27, two neighbours heard a bang. Mrs Gray's body was discovered just before 8am by a neighbour who had a key after one of her childminding customers arrived at the house.

The court heard Mrs Gray had formerly spoken to a community health nurse. "She expressed a concern that her son was holding her responsible for something," Mr Shakoor said.

Gray remained calm when he was informed about his mother's death and later remained silent when questioned on suspicion of murder, the court was told.

The court heard a carrier bag containing seven .410 shotgun cartridges was found in his Ford Mondeo and the butt of a .410 single barrelled shotgun in his flat.

The nine-day trial of issue continues.