Teacher admits killing his mother

A former teacher has admitted killing his mother and hiding her body in a shed at their Bedford home.

Matthew Clarke, 28, denied the murder of Marvaleen Lee, 50, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Mrs Lee died from a stab to the neck at her Herbrand Road home in July 2007.

Judge John Bevan QC accepted the plea and the hearing was adjourned until September while arrangements are made for a Mental Health Order.

Prosecutor William Clarke QC said: "It is the Crown's view that it would be appropriate to accept that plea.

"All the doctors' opinions in this case point one way - that he was suffering an abnormality of the mind which substanially impaired his responsibility in doing the killing.

"It is obviously a case of considerable concern, particularly because of the circumstances of the killing and there is evidence from January 2003 that he was displaying symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia."

Judge John Bevan QC said: "The decision to accept the plea is one with which I entirely agree.

"It is a serious case and also a very sad case. He will obviously remain in custody for a long time."