Man who murdered father, 93, jailed for 12 years

A man who killed his elderly father by smothering him with a pillow has been jailed for 12 years.

Gary Moore, 65, of Mill Lane, Hambrook, near Bristol, pleaded guilty on 1 November to the murder of 93-year-old Robert Moore at the home they shared.

Mr Moore, who was known as Bob, was found deceased in his bed by emergency services.

His son was handed the sentence at Bristol Crown Court on Friday afternoon by Judge Julian Lambert, who said Moore "had no reason to murder his father" who lived a "full and active life for a man of his age".

The court heard how Moore had struggled with depression, anxiety and insomnia in the period leading up to his father's murder, and had been in touch with mental health workers since January 2022.

Prosecuting barrister Robin Shellard described to the court how emergency services had been alerted to the incident by Moore, who had told the call handler and the first paramedics on the scene shortly before 10:00 BST: "I killed my Dad."

Moore remained outside the front of the home, telling another paramedic that he had not slept "for a couple of weeks", had stopped taking his anti-depressant medication and that he "didn't mean to do it".

Mr Shellard told the court that Moore believed his father was exhibiting signs of dementia, recognising the same distressing symptoms he had seen in his mother who had died in late 2021.

A neighbour who had known Mr Moore for 50 years said it was "not uncommon" to see the 93-year-old "tinkering in the garage" and gardening and that while he sometimes appeared "dishevelled" he was generally an "independent man".

In a statement read to the court Mr Moore's daughter Gail Baines described her father as "hardworking and selfless", adding: "I can't quantify the loss of my father or the pain caused."

“People loved being around my father, his little eccentricities and generosity brought so much joy to family and friends," she said. "He was renowned for hosting events in the home that he built with my mother.

“I can’t comprehend how such a heinous act could have been committed by his own son, in his own home, and that this was also my father’s last memory.”

Her brother Kevin Moore described his father as his "best friend", describing how he would cycle to visit him "almost daily" and recalling fishing trips together in the past.

"I will miss you forever," he said.

Mitigating barrister Virginia Cornwall told the court that Moore, who had also recently lost his partner and mother of their two daughters, was "despairing" about what he had done and at the time of the killing had been "overwhelmed and consumed" by thoughts of his own future.

She added that Moore had no previous convictions and was of "previous good character".

Handing down his sentence, Mr Lambert told Moore that he had taken into account his immediate admission of his own guilt and said that while Moore had a history of mental health problems there was "nothing to indicate" he would kill his father or harm others.

He said Moore had been described by his daughters as a "kind, warm-hearted person," and that he did not find "any outright hostility" from Moore towards his father other than perhaps the "frustration" of living with an older person.

"Your father was well respected by all and cherished by other family members who are deeply affected by his death," Mr Lambert said.

Det Insp Deb Hatch, of Avon and Somerset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts remain with Bob’s family who have been through a huge amount of the past five months trying to come to the terms of what has happened.

“It is clear how much Bob meant to them and they have shown remarkable courage throughout our investigation and the subsequent court process."

Moore will serve 12 years - not including the 112 days he had already been held on remand - before being considered for release by the parole board, and will remain license for the rest of his life.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.