Cleared of murdering mum, but still on trial

Jan 30 2009 The Journal

A NURSE has admitted having a volatile relationship with her mother but denied killing her.

Jennifer Shelton said although she regularly argued with Bertha Martin she never physically attacked her. She told jurors they would often have verbal confrontations but insisted they were close.

Shelton was giving evidence after she was cleared of murdering her mother, although she remains on trial accused of manslaughter.

She told Newcastle Crown Court: “Mum and I would argue verbally but there was never anything physical.

“When I was arrested I couldn’t understand it, I was taken aback.

“Arguments with my mother never got to the point of me striking out with something in my hand.”

Prosecutors claim Shelton, 56, had hit Mrs Martin, 85, with an ornamental horse at the home they shared in Woodlands Road, South Shields, in June last year.

A jury has heard an injury to the pensioner’s head was consistent with having been caused by the rear of a pottery horse ornament.

But Shelton insisted her mum had fallen and said the fact the hoof which it is claimed caused the injury had been missing after her mum died was just coincidence.

She said: “I don’t know why the hoof was not on the horse. Mum said she had fallen, so the injury could have been caused by the floor or furniture. She had fallen in the past. She was never struck on the head by me, I did not do that. I have never assaulted my mother.”

Shelton also denied having pushed her mother, hitting her on the arm and throwing an ashtray at her on other occasions.

The jury were instructed to return a not guilty verdict on the charge of murder after prosecutors reviewed the evidence.

Shelton denies manslaughter. The trial continues.