A 35-year-old Co Antrim man yesterday admitted stabbing his 53-year-old mum to death on Mother’s Day last year, during which his younger brother was also allegedly attacked and wounded in the same incident.
John Charles Coburn was originally accused of murdering his mum, Lynn Coburn, in the Co Antrim village of Connor and Kells on April 3 last year, but the charge was withdrawn after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Following a request by defence lawyer Denis Boyd for Coburn to be rearraigned, he initially just pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the murder charge.
However, when prompted by a solicitor, Coburn told Antrim Crown Court, “not guilty to murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility... guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility”.
Prosecutor Neil Connon told Judge Tom Burgess that he could “indicate that the plea is acceptable to the prosecution”.
No details surrounding the family tragedy were given to the court, however, an earlier hearing was told that neighbours raised the alarm and called the police to the scene after a violent incident in the private housing development of Rossburn Manor in the quiet village.
While Coburn’s 32-year-old brother was found in the front garden covered in blood, armed police found their mum Lynn already dead inside the family home.
Coburn, who will be sentenced in December, is also currently accused of maliciously wounding his brother with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.