Former nurse charged with murdering her mother

Jun 27 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A FORMER nurse charged with murdering her elderly mother with an ornamental ceramic shire horse faced magistrates yesterday.

Jennifer Shelton, 56, of King Charles Street, Downhill, Sunderland, was arrested on Wednesday accused of killing her 85-year-old mother Bertha Martin.

Mrs Martin, who was known by her middle name, Lauren, died of a brain haemorrhage at South Tyneside General Hospital on Tuesday.

The pensioner, of Woodlands Road, Cleadon, South Tyneside, was admitted on June 17, having suffered a severe injury to the left side of her head.

Yesterday her daughter Shelton appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

She was led into the dock in handcuffs and flanked by two female security guards. She spoke only to confirm her name and address.

Her case was sent to Newcastle Crown Court, where she will appear before a judge on Wednesday. She was remanded in custody until then. Police sealed off the semi-detached property where Mrs Martin was injured and a search continued last night as forensic investigators gathered evidence.

The investigation has shocked the comfortable neighbourhood of Cleadon.

One woman who lives nearby said: “Nothing like this has ever happened around here. It’s very peaceful.

“We all thought it must have been something serious because police tape was around the house and we saw some forensic people coming out.”

A male neighbour added: “She was just a little sweet old lady. I went round to fix her TV for her once. We don’t know anything else, it’s quite sad.”

A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Martin had suffered an acute brain haemorrhage.

It is believed she had lived in Woodlands Road for several years. Last night crime-scene tape sealed off the property and there was a car on the driveway.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Steve Barron said: “We are investigating the death of an 85-year-old woman from Cleadon. The woman died at South Tyneside District Hospital on Tuesday after being admitted on Tuesday, June 17.

“A Home Office post-mortem has been carried out and a provisional cause of the woman’s death is due to an acute brain haemorrhage.”