Victim begged son to call 999 during prolonged and “distressing” ordeal, court hears
AN 18-YEAR-OLD has been jailed for life after carrying out a prolonged and pre-planned attack on his mother, leading her to a nature reserve before killing her with a hammer.
Tristan Roberts murdered 45-year-old Angela Shellis following an assault which began at their home in Prestatyn and continued over several hours, Mold Crown Court heard.
The court was told Ms Shellis, a respected teaching assistant, pleaded with her son to call emergency services as the attack unfolded.
Prosecutor Andrew Thomas said Roberts had spent weeks planning the killing, purchasing weapons including hammers and knives, as well as protective clothing, and researching violent acts online.
The attack began late in the evening at the family home, where Roberts struck and strangled his mother while she was still conscious. During the ordeal, she attempted to reason with him in a “calm and firm” manner, urging him to seek help.
In the early hours, Roberts persuaded his mother to leave the house, making her wear a balaclava before leading her towards the Morfa nature reserve.
CCTV footage showed him guiding her by the arm along streets and across a railway line, telling her to “just follow me”. The court heard Ms Shellis was struggling to walk.
Once at an isolated area, Roberts instructed her to sit down before striking her repeatedly to the head with a hammer, causing fatal injuries. He then dragged her body approximately 100 metres into undergrowth.
Her body was discovered later that morning by a member of the public, with officers from North Wales Police attending the scene shortly afterwards.
The court heard Roberts recorded parts of the attack on his phone, with prosecutors describing the recordings as being kept as a “form of trophy”. The material was said to be too distressing to be played in court.
Further evidence revealed Roberts had discussed plans to kill his mother on the online platform Discord, using multiple accounts and detailing his intentions in advance.
After the killing, he returned home and posted messages online claiming responsibility, while also pretending to be his mother in messages to family members who had raised concerns for her safety.
Police arrested Roberts later the same day after he barricaded himself inside the property.
During sentencing, the court heard Roberts had diagnoses of autism and ADHD, though experts concluded these did not impair his ability to make decisions. His defence barrister, David Elias KC, said his client had shown signs of severe mental health decline and psychosis in the months leading up to the killing, and that his family had been deeply concerned.
In emotional statements read to the court, Ms Shellis’ children described the devastating impact of her death.
Her son said the loss was “unbearable”, adding: “I am a shell of the person I was. The most important person in my life is now gone.”
Her daughter said the family had tried to get help and that Ms Shellis was “a mum who never gave up”.
Roberts, of Coniston Drive, Prestatyn, had previously admitted murder. A mandatory life sentence was imposed, with the court noting the significant level of planning and the prolonged nature of the attack.
