Family's devastation after Wrexham man kills his grandmother

Kyle Ellis, aged 26, of New Hall Road, Ruabon, appeared at Mold Crown Court from HMP Berwyn by video link on Wednesday morning.

He had previously admitted manslaughter - in that on February 11 last year he killed Susan Hannaby, 69, at her home where he’d lived for more than ten years.

The court heard that with "absolutely no motive" he caused "considerable physical suffering" to his grandmother, with his profound and then undiagnosed mental illness being the only real explanation for his actions.

Anna Pope, prosecuting, explained in the days leading up to the incident, Ellis had started to act erratically, with deteriorating behaviour.

He was described as having a low mood and on February 8 he told his mother his head was "not in the right place."

He told a friend he didn't believe he "belonged in this world."

Following an argument with his grandmother, he returned to her house late on February 10 and at some point between midnight and 12.09am, Ms Pope said, he attacked her.

The ordeal had included punching her repeatedly, strangling her and stabbing her to the face and chest, before placing her body on the hob of her oven and attempting to set fire to her.

READ MORE: Wrexham man admits manslaughter following death of his grandmother

Ellis disabled two smoke alarms in the house and was seen emerging from the back door by a neighbour, who had seen flickering light in the kitchen.

He told them it had been a false alarm.

But firefighters arrived soon after and discovered the body, while Ellis sat on the pavement outside with his head between his knees.

On his way to hospital, he was heard to say "she deserved it," following which he was arrested for murder.

In the days which followed, he displayed delusional behaviour whilst detained - accepting having killed his grandmother, but describing her as a "demon."

He would whisper and shout, threatening to burn officers.

After being assessed by psychiatrists he was remanded to Tŷ Llywelyn mental health unit, before eventually being returned to HMP Berwyn - where he underwent additional assessment.

Reading a statement from Sharon Ellis, the defendant's mother, Ms Pope said she continues to suffer shock at what had happened and "may never come to terms" with it.

READ MORE: Wrexham man terrified passengers with outburst on Arriva bus

In her impact statement Stephanie Parry, Ms Hannaby's granddaughter, said: "Every day I miss having my nanna there.

"My nanna was such a caring person, especially to Kyle - how could he have repaid her like this?

"All the smoke damage and blood [when] clearing out the house gave me nightmares. I can't stop having flashbacks of the house."

Gordon Cole KC, defending, said it was due to the agreement of prosecution and defence psychiatrists that the commission of the offence had come about due to his mental illness that a plea of manslaughter, not murder, had been accepted by the Crown.

He said it was confirmed that Ellis suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, a recognised mental illness - and that he had at the time of the offence.

On the recommendation of expert psychiatrist Dr Dinesh Maganty, Judge Rhys Rowlands made the defendant subject to a hospital order under the mental health act without a time limit.

That means the question of whether and when he is to be released from hospital and treatment is not only for his treating clinicians to decide, but the Secretary of State and the MoJ as well.

"Your grandmother lost her life at your hands in what was a sustained and brutal attack which took place at her home," the Judge told Ellis.

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"There is no discernible motive for what you did. It is the expert opinion of psychiatrists that your psychosis is really the only credible explanation for your explosive loss of control.

"You weren't previously known to mental health services, and your serious illness was undiagnosed.

"While you have no history of relevant offending, in light of what you did on that night the court is driven to the conclusion that you are, in law, a dangerous offender.

"It is plain that you would not have committed this dreadful crime were it not for your severe mental illness."

The Judge also imposed an indefinite restriction order under the mental health act, which will mean lifelong close monitoring and care by mental health professionals should he be released in the future - for his own benefit and for the protection of the community.

The Judge extended his sympathies to those who had attended in the public gallery, adding his gratitude for "their forbearance in what is a tragic case."

Following sentencing, Det Superintendent Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said: "This is undoubtedly a difficult time for Susan’s family, but hopefully today’s events will provide them with some closure, and our thoughts remain with them."

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