Mentally ill son stabbed mum to death and slashed younger brother

A “loving, caring, wonderful” mother was brutally stabbed by her own son after he descended on a downward spiral of conspiracy theories and alternative narcotics.

Jacob Poynton-Whiting, 22 at the time, on June 22 last year attacked his devoted mother Sally Poynton, 44, who had cried out for help for her son when she witnessed firsthand how her mental health worsened.

Poynton-Whiting appeared in Truro Crown Court for sentencing via a video link from Langdon’s psychiatric unit in Dawlish at Devon having pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and causing grievous bodily harm related to an injury to his younger brother while desperately trying to help his mother.

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The tragic episode took place in Crowlas, near penzance.

Prosecuting the case, Sean Brunton, QC, said: “In a sudden and unexplained outburst, Jacob Poynton-Whiting burst into a house and stabbed his own mother to death and critically injured his younger brother.

“Sally died almost immediately from knife wounds to her neck, stomach and leg. The attack was unprovoked, unexpected, and can only be attributed to a breakdown in Jacob’s mental health. He did not try to flee the scene. On arrest he was mute, occasionally smiling. He’s been held at Langdon ever since.

Brunton described how Sally’s father and Poynton-Whiting broke up and there was a family history of a toxic relationship between the two. Despite this, Sally and her two children remained close and happy until Poynton-Whiting’s mental health deteriorated.

Brunton said: “Jacob, born in 1999, was a bright and inquisitive boy. Sally was afraid of the children’s father, Matthew Whiting, who was abusive and the children occasionally witnessed unpleasant scenes. It was clearly traumatic for both boys and Jacob’s father gave him cannabis to smoke.

“After years of acrimony and tension, the parties completely split. Sally formed a relationship with a retired GP and Jacob and Elijah hit it off. Jacob did well at GCSEs and was happy and working hard in the catering. He got along well with his family and these were reasonably happy years.”

It was in 2018, when Poynton-Whiting went to study baking and pastry at the University of Birmingham, that things started to go wrong.

He was robbed and, believing he was set up by a friend, Poynton-Whiting began smoking heavily cannabis.

He became interested in alternative lifestyles and seemed worried. He became fascinated by conspiracy theories and the world of alternative narcotics and traveled to Germany and Peru to learn more.

During this time, Poynton-Whiting’s brother and mother noted that he was mentally ill and going off the rails.

He neglected himself, made himself unemployable, slept on the floor, and was occasionally violent with his mother.

Brunton added: “Sally was loving, reasonable and kind to her son. He had just finished his second year at Falmouth University. Aside from her worries about Jacob, she was happy.”

Poynton-Whiting was briefly held in the Longreach mental unit in Redruth but he was discharged without a diagnosis and without a clear support plan. He was removed from the mental health service list when he did not respond to follow-up letters.

Said Brunton, “Sally struggled unsuccessfully to diagnose and treat Jacob. He behaved in a strange and antisocial way, but there was no sign of what was to come.”

At 6:30 a.m. on June 22, Elijah noticed Poynton-Whiting knocking on the window, so he let him in. She turned to go to the bathroom and less than a minute later she heard screaming in her mother’s room.

Sally had sustained stab wounds, but Elijah bravely intervened and pushed his brother outside, sustaining a large gash on his leg from the 21cm bladed knife Poynton-Whiting was holding.

When Elijah tried to call the emergency services, he heard a knock. Poynton-Whiting forced herself through the window, cut her mother’s throat, and wrapped her in a curtain.

Police response units appeared and Poynton-Whiting was seen on the front steps of the house.

He was calm and quiet and remained mute throughout the interview process, aside from asking to use the bathroom and the occasional smile and laugh.

The court heard a series of heartbreaking victim impact statements from Sally’s loved ones.

Father Robert Poynton described his daughter as “loving, caring and wonderful” and someone who brought joy to life every day.

He added: “She was creative and an excellent artist. He had a fascination with science. If Jacob received treatment sooner, Sally would still be with us today. Why was it not taken seriously?

He said it was a consolation that Sally received a posthumous diploma from the university.

Hugh Marshall, Sally’s partner, said: “She loved life, but above all she loved her children and always did her best to protect them. She would love them to the end and in the end she gave her life for Jacob.

“He died doing what he always did, trying to protect his children. Sally wouldn’t want the wrath of revenge, she would have wanted Jacob to get the help he so desperately wanted.”

Elijah said that he missed his mother very much and that she was not only his mother, but also a friend as they had similar interests and spent a lot of time together. He says that he is petrified when he thinks of the moment when his brother will be released and that the scars on his leg remind him of the bloody scene every day.

He said: “Jacob used to be a wonderful person and the best brother I could ask for. He was damaged by his mental health condition and defrauded by mental health services. My mother desperately asked for help, but was let down again and again. I am devastated that Jacob needed my mother’s death to get help.”

In sentencing, Judge Simon Carr said: “On June 22 you killed your mother and seriously injured your younger brother. You were 22 years old at the time and very ill.

“You were in a severe psychotic state when you showed up at your mother’s estate armed with a large knife. Your brother let you in and the next thing he heard screaming. Showing extreme bravery, he pushed you in and out, but you forced your way in through a broken window. It was a short and brutal attack.

“Sally was only 44 years old at the time of her death and was intelligent, fleshy and extremely devoted to her children. It was obvious to her and to the others that you were in a very bad way.

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“He did everything he could to support you and even though your behavior was scary, he never gave up on you.”

Judge Carr added that Poynton-Whiting has now been diagnosed with schizophrenia, leading to feelings of paranoia and a distorted view of society.

He went on to talk about how the Poynton-Whiting sectioning didn’t produce any progress.

Poynton-Whiting was sentenced to a hospital order, which means he will remain in a secure psychiatric facility until it is deemed safe to return to society.

Judge Carr closed the hearing by expressing sympathy with Sally’s friends and family for the loss of someone so dear to her.

Detective Sergeant Nige Green of the Devon and Cornwall Police Major Crime Research Team said: “Sally’s family and friends have had to endure the most tragic loss imaginable and under the saddest of circumstances. I would like to thank them for their worthy research assistance and my thoughts, and those of the entire research team, are with them at this time.

“I think this is the best outcome given the circumstances so Jacob can get the help he needs.”