Sick act after man killed own mum with pot

It took less than a day for the jury to find David Mapp guilty of killing his elderly mother with a pot plant.

A man who killed his elderly mother with a pot plant — before pawning her television and whipper snipper for $200 — has been found guilty of murder by a jury.

David Andrew Mapp, 59, was on trial this week accused of murdering his 82-year-old mother Coleen Wilson at Tumbi Umbi on the NSW Central Coast in July 2022.

On Thursday afternoon, the jury returned a note just before 12.30pm and found him guilty of murder.

Mr Mapp was taking into custody after his mother was found dead. Picture: 7News

He was arrested and charged with her murder. Picture: TNV

Their verdict comes after they began deliberating at 2.15pm on Wednesday.

In an attempt to have the charge reduced to manslaughter throughout the trial, Mr Mapp’s lawyer argued his client was suffering from a severe anxiety disorder and heroin withdrawal at the time and did not intend to murder her.

The court heard how Mr Mapp argued with his mother in the lead-up to her death.

Mr Mapp tried to revive his mother after hitting her in the head with the pot plant, the court heard.

The home in which the pair lived on the NSW Central Coast. Picture: News Corp Australia

On a previous occasion, the court heard Mr Mapp had suffered long-term heroin addiction after first being given the drug at age 12.

Police were called to the family home in Tumbi Umbi near Gosford on July 28, 2022 following reports of concern for the woman’s welfare.

Paramedics arrived about 5.15pm to find the woman dead in the house with severe head injuries.

A number of items were seized from the house. Picture: News Corp Australia

Police allege Mr Mapp attacked his mother earlier that morning with the pot plant before leaving the home between 7am and 9.30am in a red Toyota Corolla.

The jury heard Mapp told police he tried to revive his mother for about eight hours before calling triple zero.

After Ms Wilson’s death, he pawned her television and whipper snipper for $200 which he used to buy heroin. She was previously forced to pay $700 to get her TV back after her son pawned it.

A car was also towed from the home. Picture: News Corp Australia

Police seized the red Toyota Corolla along with a number of other items at the family home.

He was taken to Wyong Local Police and charged with one count of murder. Mr Mapp has also separately pleaded guilty in the local court to driving while disqualified.

He will be sentenced on February 5 next year.

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Originally published as Sick act after man killed own mum with pot