Drunk son stabbed dad while he lay in his bed
A TERRIFIED dad woke up to find his son standing over him with a knife and telling him he deserved to die as he stabbed him.
Violent drunk Christopher Bruce already had a history of attacking his mum and had moved in with his vulnerable 63-year-old dad to try to get his drinking under control.
A court heard he had texted a friend in the lead-up to the attack saying he had to kill his father, Joseph, and that he had a knife.
He then stabbed his dad in his own bed and only good fortune saved him from death or serious injury.
Now Bruce, 34, of Spoor Street, Dunston, Gateshead, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting wounding with intent. He was originally charged with attempted murder but that was dropped.
The court heard it was in August 2021 that he moved into his father’s home in Gateshead. He did so against a background of alcohol dependency which could, and had, manifested itself in the use of violence against family members.
His father sought to monitor and limit the defendant’s intake, allowing him sufficient to control his craving and keep ‘the shakes’ at bay, while doing his best to ensure that he was eating and not drinking to excess.
On November 18 last year, Mr Bruce and his son had spent time together before returning home and Mr Bruce went to bed at about 5-6pm, as was his habit.
Nick Dry, prosecuting, said: “Messaging between them earlier gave no indication of any trouble or ill will towards his father on the part of the defendant. The same could not be said about the content of messages sent by the defendant later that night by which time he had consumed further alcohol.
“The tenor of those messages revealed that he was telling a friend that he had to kill his father and that he had a knife. The friend expressed concern and alluded to the defendant’s apparent intoxication, suggesting that what he proposed was not a good idea and asking what was going on.
“Those messages stopped after 23:30 when it is thought the attack took place, Joseph Bruce waking up to find his son standing over him with a knife and stating that he ‘deserved to die’, then stabbing him in the left arm with a kitchen knife, the blade travelling through the arm into the body.
“The defendant then left the room without a further word but initially remained in the house as his father called 999 and explained what had happened.”
Bruce then left and quickly encountered police officers attending the scene, flagging down their car, identifying himself and explaining what he had just done to his father, adding that he shouldn’t have done it.
Mr Bruce was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary and found to have two wounds to his left upper arm and a further wound to his chest wall. He underwent surgery.
Mr Bruce did not wish to provide any further statement outlining the impact that the offence has had upon him. He said he enjoyed a close relationship with his son and remains supportive of him.
Bruce was jailed for four years and four months with an extended licence period of a further three years after Judge Robert Adams concluded he is a dangerous offender.
Tony Davis, defending, said he has severe alcohol dependence and added: “He appreciates that he was very fortunate not to have caused much more serious harm.”