Killer's mental health 'made argument worse'

A man on trial for allegedly murdering his mother at her home had a more aggressive response to an argument due to his mental health and a lack of the correct medication, a court has heard.

Brenda Breed was found dead at her home in Westonzyland in Somerset on 22 July 2025 with injuries so severe she was "unrecognisable".

Richard Breed, who has schizophrenia, admits his mother's manslaughter but denies her murder. He has previously said he knew what he had done, but had no memory of doing it.

The jury was told earlier Breed blamed his attack on not being able to access more of his schizophrenia medication.

Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court as a witness for the defence Dr Peter Indoe, a forensic psychiatrist, said a combination of Breed's schizophrenia, a lack of medication and sleep deprivation would have meant he was unable to form rational judgement at the time of his attack.

He was said to have been arguing with his mother when the attack happened.

Breed, who had been admitted to four psychiatric facilities while he lived in Australia, was said to have been estranged from his family, and was paranoid his mother was trying to get him "institutionalised", the jury heard.

Indoe said Breed had been prescribed, among other medication, quetiapine - which is used to treat schizophrenia - but had not been able to get hold of it since returning to the UK from Australia in the days before the attack.

The witness also told the court despite Breed appearing to be "calm" and "normal" before and after killing his mother, that is consistent with someone who may have schizophrenia or emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), which Breed had also been diagnosed with.

Indoe said he believed the jury should be directed to consider diminished responsibility in their deliberations.

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