Locked up, man who killed his mum after kids’ deaths

A MAN who killed his mother following the deaths of his children was yesterday sent to the State Hospital at Carstairs.

James Standing, 36, admitted stabbing Beverley Bliss at her home in Carrutherstown, Dumfriesshire, just before Christmas last year.

He was originally accused of murdering the 52-year-old but later pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, which was accepted.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard he was suffering from ‘an abnormality of the mind’ at the time of the crime.

Standing admitted killing hotel worker Miss Bliss by repeatedly stabbing her on the head and body and repeatedly punching

‘Abnormality of the mind’

her. Police who arrived at the scene found her with a knife in her neck.

Standing then stabbed her partner, Gavin Robertson. He admitted assaulting him to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement on December 22 last year.

Standing’s son died in 2015 at five weeks and he was later said to be suffering bereavement issues. Medical records referred to depression and anxiety.

His partner became pregnant again but their daughter was stillborn at 14 weeks. Standing was later found to have developed delusional beliefs.

The couple separated and Standing moved in with his mother before the fatal knife attack.

Judge Lord Beckett ruled that Standing should be held at the State Hospital.