A 30-year-old man from Oxford has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his own father in a tragic domestic incident in Bath.
A Fatal Attack in a Family Home
Christopher Monro, also known as Kit, killed 73-year-old Peter Monro at his home on Kelston View in Bath, Somerset. The attack occurred just after midday on February 11 this year. A carer discovered the retired victim in his bedroom with fatal knife wounds and called emergency services, but he died soon after.
Monro had been staying with his father the weekend before the killing. Local residents reported hearing an argument between the two men two days prior to the fatal assault.
Court Sentencing and a Sister's Emotional Defence
At Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, Monro, who had pleaded guilty to murder in August, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 years. The proceedings took an extraordinary turn when his sister, Lara, addressed the court in his defence.
She expressed her profound grief, stating: "I loved our Papa with all my heart, and you [Kit] took him away from me." Yet, in a powerful display of complex family loyalty, she added: "Yet while I will never be able to understand why or how you were able to do what you have done, you will always be my brother, and I will always love and care for you."
Lara described her brother's long-standing struggle with "severely complex mental health issues" and suggested he had not received sufficient support from the NHS. However, she was clear that this did not excuse his actions, which had left her finding it "almost impossible" to grieve.
Police Investigation and Family Trauma
Avon and Somerset Police traced Monro's movements from the crime scene. He was arrested the following day, more than 80 miles away, at his home on Osney Lane in Oxford by detectives from Thames Valley Police.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Meade acknowledged the family's ordeal: "While today may mark the conclusion of the court proceedings, it does not end the pain and loss felt by all those who knew and loved Peter Monro." He praised the family's resilience and thanked those who provided crucial information for the investigation.
The case highlights the devastating intersection of mental health crises, family tragedy, and the lasting trauma of domestic violence, leaving a family torn between justice, loss, and unconditional love.
