Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAN GETS LIFE FOR MURDER OF HIS MUM
Emma, 39, found stabbed in flat
A MAN who admitted murdering his mother was jailed for life yesterday.
Jordan Kennedy appeared at Belfast Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to a charge of murdering Emma Jane Mcparland, 39, last April.
The 23-year-old, from Haywood Avenue in the south of the city, was told to stand by a court clerk and when a charge of murder on April 22, 2020 was put to him, he replied “guilty”.
Although no details surrounding Ms Mcparland’s death were mentioned yesterday, a previous hearing was told she sustained fatal stab wounds in her flat off the Ormeau Road.
Following Kennedy’s guilty plea, barristers for both the Crown and defence said they would provide written submissions ahead of sentencing.
These will include medical reports on Kennedy and Victim Impact Statements from Ms Mcparland’s family.
Mr Justice O’hara said he would hear the plea on February 4 next year.the judge then addressed the defendant and said: “Mr Kennedy, you have pleaded guilty to the murder of your mother Emma Jane Mcparland on April 22, 2020.
“In law, the sentence which I have to impose on you for murder is a sentence of life imprisonment – and I impose that sentence now.
“There will be a hearing on February 4 and the purpose of that hearing is for me to hear a plea of mitigation on your behalf and to consider any other relevant matters which are brought to my attention, so that I can impose on you the minimum period of time which you have to serve in prison before you become eligible to be considered for release.
“Your life sentence which you must serve and which I must impose on you for the murder on April 22, 2020 is imposed now.”
When the judge asked Kennedy “is that understood?” he replied “yes”. He was then remanded back into custody.