Woman who killed mother in frenzied knife attack jailed for life

Charlene Sargeant, aged 25, snapped after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her mother Rocky Sargeant, subjecting her to a 'sustained and brutal' attack at the home they shared, a judge heard.

The victim suffered 18 stab wounds to her neck and throat after her daughter reached for a knife from the kitchen drawer and plunged it into her. She was stabbed in several parts of the kitchen as she made desperate attempts to get away from her daughter, who was intent on murder, Stafford Crown Court was told.

Stafford Crown Court heard both women suffered with mental disorders and that the killer had suffered physical and psychological torment from her mother, whom she cared for at their home in Cheadle, Stoke.

The court heard how Charlene came downstairs at around 7am on March 16 and launched the ferocious attack. She then put the knife in her mother's hand and when she finally called emergency services two hours later told police she had killed herself, before later confessing to her crime.

Judge Michael Chambers said Charlene knew what she was doing, despite her mental anguish. A jury was not convinced her condition was serious enough to deliver a verdict of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and found her guilty of murder.

She was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum term of 13 years. She showed little emotion as she was taken down from the dock.

The pair had a 'volatile' relationship and were often heard rowing by neighbours at their Sun Street home, the court was told.

Judge Chambers said: "You took a knife from one of the drawers and stabbed her repeatedly in the neck and throat.

"Your mental disorder brought on by years of abuse does provide significant mitigation but this was a brutal and sustained attack with a knife."

Charles Miskin QC, defending, said: "She was provoked by the prolonged and lifelong stress caused by her mother.

"Matricide by a daughter is an unusual crime. This was a product of great stress over a long period.

"This is a very long fuse blowing up the powder keg."