An 18-year-old man from Prestatyn, Wales, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his mother with a hammer. Tristan Roberts received a minimum sentence of 22 years and six months after pleading guilty to the murder of Angela Shellis, according to The Guardian. The court heard that Roberts had meticulously planned the attack, researching methods of killing and purchasing weapons such as knives, hammers, and an axe. He recorded the attacks at home and in a nature reserve on a dictaphone.
Key Takeaways
An 18-year-old man from Prestatyn, Wales, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his mother with a hammer. Tristan Roberts planned the crime meticulously, recording his actions on a dictaphone. He had expressed misogynistic views online and showed fascination with violent media.
- Tristan Roberts received a minimum sentence of 22 years and six months
- Roberts carefully planned the attack, researching methods and purchasing weapons after turning 18
- He recorded the attacks at home and in a nature reserve on a dictaphone
- Online posts revealed his misogynistic views and plans to kill his mother
According to BBC News, Roberts waited until he turned 18 to legally buy the weapons used in the murder. He announced his intention to kill his mother on social media platform Discord, where he had posted misogynistic and violent messages. The court heard that Roberts had a fascination with fictional serial killers Dexter and Patrick Bateman from American Psycho.
Roberts persuaded his mother to leave their home late in the evening of 23 October 2025, telling her he would take her for medical help. They walked through a nature reserve where Roberts took a hammer from his rucksack and killed Shellis by hitting her on the head multiple times. According to The Guardian, Roberts recorded himself saying: “Oh God that was terrifying … That felt so crazy.” On Discord, he said: “I’ve just had the craziest day.”
Police were called to the nature reserve on the morning of 24 October when Shellis’s body was found in undergrowth. A 100-metre blood trail led to it, and gloves and a balaclava were found at the scene alongside her crutch. Roberts was arrested at home and seemed calm, asking: “Is the body you found my mother?” He answered “no comment” to all questions during his interviews.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told Roberts that he appeared to have revelled in the control he exerted over his own mother. The judge noted that it was a truly awful way for someone to die, made all the more dreadful by the fact her attacker was her own son. Shellis’ elder son, Ethan Roberts, said in a statement: “All my mum ever did was love Tristan.” Her sister, Sarah Gunther, described her as a fantastic and fiercely supportive mum.
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