A woman has gone on trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of murdering her 86-year-old mother on Christmas Day. Stefania Glowka, 64, allegedly strangled Tamara Glowka with a belt in what prosecutors describe as a 'very deliberate act of violence'. The defendant has admitted killing her mother but denies murder, pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The court heard that Glowka had been the sole carer for her mother for 17 years and claimed she 'could no longer cope'. Prosecutors allege she planned to kill her mother and then commit suicide by stabbing herself. After strangling her mother, she attempted to take her own life but failed and was later arrested while being treated in an ambulance.
Disturbing footage and audio were played to the jury, in which Glowka calmly told officers: 'Good morning - I just killed my mother.' She added: 'I tried to harm myself as well - but I am very weak. Please help me.' When asked why, she said her mother had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and that she had been a sole carer for 17 years.
Police arrived at the flat to find an 'unresponsive elderly female lying on a mattress on the floor'. CPR was given but paramedics were unable to revive her. Officers also found a folder of documents, including a letter dated Christmas Day addressed to a close friend, which read: 'I killed my mum as I cannot continue to look after her and I love her too much to put her into an institutionalised care.'
Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court the letter provided a 'significant insight' into her thinking and plan, suggesting she was 'getting her affairs in order prior to carrying out the killing'. A post-mortem concluded the victim died from injuries consistent with neck compression. The trial continues.
