A son has been accused of brutally raping and subsequently murdering his own mother during a chilling torture session in the 57-year-old woman’s bedroom.
The 27-year-old suspect, Alexander McDonald, who works in a restaurant was previously described as ‘laid-back and gentle’ but not after it was learnt that he stabbed and strangled his mum after having forceful sexual intercourse with her.
Exeter Crown Court was told that he got drunk during a wine tasting session at work and then snorted cocaine before returning to his mother’s home in Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton, Somerset, late one night last September.
It was learnt that McDonald exchanged some sexualised texts during the small hours of the morning and prosecutor Simon Laws QC said only child McDonald was “in a state of sexual excitement”.
According to the prosecutor, the lifeless remains of the victim, Catherine McDonald who worked as a carer for elderly people, was discovered in bed with the ear plugs she wore to help her sleep before the incident.
He said, “The evidence suggests she was attacked while she was in bed asleep.
“It was a surprise attack.
“She stood no chance against her 27 year old son who is well over six feet tall.
“He used at least three and in all probability four weapons against her.
“Catherine McDonald died as a result of being stabbed and strangled.”
The prosecutor further explained that a kitchen knife was found in a bathroom sink which had been used to stab her twice in the chest which ‘had penetrated right through her body’.
According to Mirror UK, McDonald also strangled her with an electric power cable which was still wrapped about her neck like ligature when she was discovered.
The wounds were non fatal as it was revealed that there were scratches and bruises on her face, body, arms, legs and neck as she struggled for survival in the attack.
The suspect was said to have used knitting needles to stab the woman’s neck and one was still in place, and a pathologist said she was still alive when this happened.
The prosecutor further disclosed that there were also small cuts on the victim’s neck believed to have been caused by a pair of nail scissors.
The jury further heard that McDonald used the scissors to “force her to submit to a sexual assault’ before he had his way.
It was further learnt that a condom was found and DNA was discovered on the victim.
The court was told McDonald tried briefly to clear up the scene before he fled in his mother’s Smart car taking his passport and emptying her purse but he later crashed the car, flipping it over near Tiverton, Devon.
The police subsequently arrested him before they realised that his mother had been murdered in cold blood.
At one point he texted an ex girlfriend to say that he would either be dead soon or in jail.
The prosecutor explained that the suspect was very much aware of his deeds as he virtually said nothing during police interrogations in which the officers said he was ‘quite nonchalant’ while others said he was ‘laid back and gentle’.
When he was told about the rape of his mother, he said that was ‘a bit of a shock to him’.
Mr Law said, “He was acting in a purposeful and deliberate manner.
“He has no one else to blame for the state he was in.”
McDonald admitted to the charges of manslaughter but denied murder on the grouds that he was drunk.
In the meantime, the trial continues.
