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Sentencing of Peter Fox for
manslaughter of Mother an Sister
MERSEYSIDE Police can confirm that a 27
year old man has been sentenced to life (with a 12 year and 7 month tariff)
after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his 57 year old mother, Bernadette,
and 27 year old sister, Sarah, in Bootle in April 2015. The Judge also imposed a
restriction under Section 45a of the Mental Health Act (1983), which means he
will be treated at Ashworth Hospital until he is deemed fit to be transferred to
prison. Detectives launched an investigation, on Friday, 17 April 2015,
following the discovery of the bodies of Bernadette and Sarah Fox at 2 separate
addresses in Bootle (Bernadette was found at her home in Brookhill Road and her
daughter, Sarah, was found at her home in Worcester Road). Post mortem
examinations carried out at the time established that Bernadette Fox died as a
result of asphyxiation, whilst Sarah Fox died from multiple stab wounds.
Following the discovery of the bodies it was established that Peter Fox had left
the region and detectives issued an appeal to the public with a description of
Fox and CCTV images of him in a bid to find him. He was arrested, on 20 April
2015, by British Transport Police, at Euston Station, after being spotted by a
member of the public who had seen the media appeals, which had also been
distributed on behalf of Merseyside Police by the Metropolitan Police in London.
The Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Dave
Rooney said:- "There is no doubt that Peter Fox was mentally ill at the
time he took the lives of his Mother and Sister. However, we will never be able
to comprehend why he undertook the course of action he did, and it must be
remembered that a family is still trying to come to terms with the tragic and
untimely loss of their loved ones. Our thoughts today are rightly with
Bernadette and Sarah's family, who have shown great strength and dignity
throughout the investigation and trial process. I would like take this
opportunity to thank the investigation team for their commitment and tenacity
throughout the investigation and the Crown Prosecution Service for preparing
this case for court. I would also like to thank the Metropolitan Police, British
Transport Police, the media and the public who called us with information about
the whereabouts of Peter Fox following our media appeals, for their support
which lead to the arrest of Peter Fox."
In a victim impact statement prepared on behalf of the family of Bernadette and
Sarah, the family said:- "It is absolutely unbelievable that we all find
ourselves in this horrendous situation. Never in a million years could any of us
have foreseen such an awful act would happen in our family. Our lives have been
ripped apart and we have lost 2 beautiful people at the hands of someone who
should have protected them, yet their own flesh and blood did the opposite.
Words cannot express the pain and anguish have endured since their murders.
Peter's decision to take the lives of his own mum and sister with no regard for
the effects it may have on others is unimaginable. The loss of Berna and Sarah
is beyond words. There will be no more birthdays, parties, celebrations or any
other family activities. The laughter, hugs, conversations, phone calls, texts,
random knocks at the door and seeing two smiling faces and those opportunities
to say I love you are forever gone and our family is forever broken. He has
taken the lives of 2 special people and in doing so destroyed the lives of so
many others. We will probably never know the reasons why he did this awful
thing, but he needs to realise what he's done and serve time for taking the
lives of his mother and sister." |
