Gregory Coulson, 32, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after murdering his 67-year-old mother, Carmen Coulson, at their Lingwood Park home in Longthorpe, Peterborough. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the property early on 9 February last year following a report from Gregory, but evidence showed the fatal stabbing took place the previous evening. Officers found Carmen with multiple stab wounds, including a fatal wound to the heart.
Court Dismisses Intruder Claim
At Huntingdon Law Courts, Gregory Coulson denied murder, claiming unknown intruders were responsible for his mother’s death. The jury unanimously rejected this defence on 10 March, finding him guilty. He was sentenced today, 4 June, to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years.
Details Of The Attack
The post-mortem revealed Carmen suffered numerous stab wounds across her body. Gregory admitted to stabbing her with a kitchen steak knife around 10pm the night before police were called. He later confessed to feeling overwhelmed by personal struggles and substance abuse.
Substance Abuse Factor
Detective Inspector Mark Dollard revealed that Gregory had heavy cocaine and alcohol use in the three months before the killing. Although the precise motive is unclear, the detective expressed sympathy for Carmen’s family, noting their dignified conduct during the trial.
Admission And Arrest
After his arrest, Gregory asked police how long a typical murder sentence might be. During police interviews, he accepted responsibility for the killing and described his actions as out of character, relating them to feelings of despair.
