Son jailed for 18 years for father's murder

A man who strangled his father during a drunken argument has been given a life sentence.

Brian Smith, 33, of Friars Garth in Abbeytown, Cumbria, was found guilty last month of murdering his 73-year-old father Stanley Smith at his bungalow at Fell Close, Silloth.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Barker imposed a minimum term of 18 years, reduced to 17 years and 139 days to account for the time Smith has already spent in custody.

The judge said Smith attacked his father in a "rage" but found the killing had not been premeditated and Smith had not intended to kill him, although he did mean to cause serious harm.

The court heard the pair visited the Albion pub to watch football on 21 December 2025, where they each drank about four pints.

Smith's defence said there had been a two-way drunken argument after returning to Stanley Smith's home and suggested it may have been prompted by discussion of a sensitive family matter.

The judge accepted there had been an argument, but found Smith became angry at remarks made by his father, lost control and launched the fatal attack.

Police were called in the early hours of 22 December after the North West Ambulance Service requested assistance.

Forensic and medical evidence established Stanley Smith died from compression of the neck.

Judge Barker said pressure had been applied consistently for about a minute and it was "highly likely" Stanley Smith had fallen unconscious before he died, meaning his son continued to hold him in a chokehold after he lost consciousness.

Noises heard by a neighbour were Stanley Smith struggling to defend himself, the judge said.

Judge Barker found Smith subsequently created a false narrative about what had happened, while prosecutors said he lied to the emergency services and people close to him.

Jurors also heard Smith left a voicemail in which he said "I wanted to kill him" and "let him rot".

Smith maintained the comments had been made in the heat of the moment, were taken out of context and did not mean he wanted his father dead.

During sentencing, Judge Barker said the fact Stanley Smith was attacked in his own home and the domestic nature of the killing were aggravating factors.

He also found Stanley Smith was particularly vulnerable, saying Smith knew his father had been sober for several years and would be more affected by drinking alcohol.

The defence told the court Smith had a caution for battery in 2016 but no previous convictions.

The court also heard Smith had spoken of hearing voices, experiencing uncontrollable rage and feeling angry all the time, but had declined support.

Judge Barker said those difficulties most likely explained what happened when Smith lost control during the argument.

He described Smith's behaviour following his father's death as "callous and calculated".

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