Man accused of killing elderly mother with pot plant says he was suffering ‘anxiety disorder’
The condition is set to be his main defence to the murder charge as he heads to trial later this month.
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A man accused of killing his elderly mother by bashing her over the head with a pot plant is set to claim he was “mentally impaired” at the time of the incident due to a pre-existing anxiety condition.
NSW Central Coast man David Mapp, 59, is set to face trial in the NSW Supreme Court later this month after allegedly murdering his 82-year-old mother Colleen Wilson in July 2022.
On Tuesday, Mr Mapp’s legal team told the court they would be running a “substantial impairment” defence on the basis he was suffering from an anxiety condition with “features of PTSD”.
The court also heard how Mr Mapp had suffered long-term heroin addiction after first being given the drug at age 12.
His team also applied for a judge-alone trial.
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.
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.
Detectives believe he then returned home and called emergency services.
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.
The court will hand down its decision on whether the trial will be judge-alone on Thursday morning before the trial begins later this month.
Originally published as Man accused of killing elderly mother with pot plant says he was suffering ‘anxiety disorder’
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