A man who stabbed his father to death in a frenzied knife attack has been put behind bars for 10 years for manslaughter. Sean Maurice attacked father Paul at his home in South East London on the evening of September 14, 2021, where he stabbed him in the back and chest over 30 times.
After his crime, Sean claimed his dad had sexually abused him which was confirmed by his siblings and the 31-year-old was acquitted of murder on Wednesday following a trial at the Old Bailey. He pleaded guilty for manslaughter and was subsequently handed a 10-year prison sentence, the Mirror reports.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC said the alarm was raised by the victim's next door neighbours in Bromley and the 52-year-old car salesman had told the couple he didn't want to die as he collapsed bleeding on their doorstep. Despite paramedic's best efforts, Paul Maurice was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.56pm.
While his injuries were being attended to, a police officer asked him who stabbed him and he replied: "Sean". The killer was located a few hours later running through nearby back gardens following a short manhunt.
He was surrounded by police while sat at the top of a garden shed before he was eventually detained. He told officers: "I've got nothing to lose. You lot are trying to arrest me because I beat up my dad who abused me, he raped me... and you want to arrest me? What kind of f** justice is that?"
Judge Dennis Watson, KC who jailed the defendant for manslaughter, said: "During the trial you spoke of your father's violence and his physical abuse of you Your sister and brother spoke of similar abuse at his hands and on the evidence I have heard I accept that your experiences were the worst.
"I also accept that this abuse has caused you lasting damage."
He added Sean started using alcohol and drugs to deal with his issues and concluded it 'must have contributed to your erratic behaviour and deteriorating mental health'.
Sean was detained in July 2021 under the mental health act and then briefly lived at his father's home. He was taken into rehab for three weeks but he later relapsed.
The judge detailed how Sean had become upset when his father refused to let him stay with him on September 6. On September 14 he "relapsed again, took some alcohol and crack" before falling out with the family at his temporary home.
After this, he walked to his father's house and stabbed him 33 times with a knife he had taken with him to the scene. Sean had previously claimed that he had taken the weapon from his dad's kitchen counter but this was proven false.
Judge Watson said: "You took a knife to the scene. Your anger was clear as you set off from home. Your sister explained her shock and mixed feelings toward her father.
"She made the point she no longer has the choice to go to police about what he did. He had other children as well as you and your siblings and they too have lost a father."
Mr Emlyn Jones had told jurors there was no issue that Maurice had killed Paul Maurice. The defendant pled guilty to manslaughter and admitted he had lost control following a heated confrontation with his father.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
