Christchurch man killed mother with sword

Christchurch man killed mother with sword

A reclusive Christchurch man who was his mother's sole caregiver killed her in bed with a sword, a coroner has found.

Christchurch man killed mother with sword before taking his own life, Coroner finds - Daily Telegraph NZ

A coroner’s report has detailed the tragic murder-suicide of Christchurch mother Beverley McIlraith, 79, and her son Nicholas, 46, whose decomposing bodies were found in April 2022 after family failed to reach them for over a month. Nicholas, described as reclusive but caring, fatally attacked his ailing mother with a 66cm sword before taking his own life. Beverley suffered from dementia and multiple health issues, and had resisted outside help,…