Heartfelt tributes have been paid to am 'amazing mum, wife, sister and friend' after she was brutally killed by her son in a knife rampage at their Scots home.
Carol Milne was stabbed 33 times by her son Jordan in their home in Aberdeen last June after watching a wildlife programme on the TV.
Milne, 26, has pleaded guilty to culpable homicide in the High Court in Glasgow.
In an emotional statement from Carol's other son Curtis, he said 'words will never explain the heartache, the anger, the pain and the sadness this has left behind' after the death of the 59-year-old.
He added that her husband Norman had since died and never got to see justice.
Milne severed his 59-year-old mother Carol Milne's jugular vein and carotid artery in the frenzied attack at their home on Clifton Road, Aberdeen on July 10 2019.
Her bloodstained body was found by Norman, who was suffering from a brain tumour at the time, and has since died.
Milne, who was initially charged with murder, pled guilty today at the High Court in Glasgow to culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility.
The statement from Curtis read: "The last 19 months have been harrowing. So many questions and not enough answers. How do you explain the feeling of having my mother taken away? Words will never explain the heartache, the anger, the pain and the sadness this has left behind.
"It is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the guilty plea accepted at court today despite my belief that it is not the right outcome.
"I have lost my mum and my best friend. We love and miss her so, so much every day. I will never forget how amazing she was as my mum, as a wife, a sister and as a friend - and we want everyone to know what a special person she was and that she was taken from us all far too soon.
"My father dealt with a terminal illness for just under two and a half years. He was very positive and upbeat despite this as he had his wife by his side giving him strength every day.
"Following the tragic incident, he declined both physically and mentally and had no will to live. Sadly he passed away this month and did not get the chance to see any justice.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Police Scotland for their sympathy and support when I needed it most, as well as every single person who has sent or posted messages of support – this has been a genuine comfort."
The High Court in Glasgow heard that in the weeks before her killing Carol feared for her safety because of Milne's aggressive behaviour and his constant demands for money.
She called police on June 22 2019 as she was also worried he might damage her car or the house after she refused him cash.
Milne told officers that his mother was overreacting to a minor argument over him drinking the last of the milk.
Two days later on June 24 2019 she phoned the police again.
Prosecutor Angela Gray said: “She told the operator her son had mental health problems and that she needed to go to a psychiatric hospital, but nobody was listening to her."
She was told to contact NHS 24 and to dial 101 as "on the information provided, it wasn’t a life-threatening situation.”
Police spoke to Milne and his mother and it was agreed he could stay if he stopped playing loud music and helped around the house.
The court was told Milne and his parents watched a wildlife programme on July 10, 2019.
Norman Milne left his wife and son watching the television and went to bed and took a sleeping tablet.
The next morning, he found his wife's body lying on the floor at the bottom of the bed, curled up with blood on the side of her face. There was a kitchen knife lying beside her.
A post-mortem examination revealed 33 stab wounds to Carol’s face, neck, torso, arms and upper back as well as scolding from a kettle of water.
Miss Gray added: “Major vessels of the neck, the internal jugular vein and carotid artery were the most significant stab wounds resulting in the most extensive injuries which caused Carol’s death.”
When quizzed by police Milne told them his mother was evil.
Milne, who has no children, claimed she had prevented him from seeing his two children, and wanted him to be gay as she was a lesbian.
Miss Gray said: “He said he suffered from mental health problems, contemplated suicide many times , and wouldn’t hurt a fly unless provoked.”
Milne was examined psychiatrists and it was agreed Milne he suffered from a “mental disorder that had the effect of diminishing responsibility.”
Judge Lord Burns deferred sentence on Milne, who appeared via a video link, and sent him to the State Hospital under an interim compulsion order.
The court heard that Milne's behaviour changed after he returned from New Zealand in April 2018 after losing his job and after his father's brain tumour diagnosis.
Defence QC Brian McConnachie will give his plea in mitigation when the case next calls in April.
Detective Inspector Gary Winter, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts are with Carol’s family and friends as they continue to come to terms with her tragic and needless loss.
“Carol was brutally stabbed and killed in her bedroom by her son Jordan. Jordan was apprehended by police shortly after the incident and has been in custody ever since.
"Subsequent examination by various psychiatrists has concluded that Jordan was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and that had the effect of diminishing his responsibility, hence the conviction for culpable homicide.”
