An 18-year-old man beat his mother to death with a claw hammer – as her horrified husband watched via the family’s ring doorbell.
Frederico Canuzo, from Warrington, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today and admitted causing the death of his mother, 48-year-old Chintzia McIntyre.
Ms McIntyre’s husband, who is not Canuzo’s biological father, was working away in a different part of the country when he received a Ring bell notification.
To his horror, when he opened it he witnessed his son, then 17, attacking Ms McIntyre before fleeing from the scene.
Cheshire Police were called to the house in Great Sankey at around 9.40am on August 29, 2023.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but despite their best efforts, sadly Ms McIntyre was pronounced dead.
It was determined she had suffered at least 29 blows to the head with a claw hammer.
Canuzo today entered a guilty plea to the manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Officers investigating in the aftermath of the attack found that Canuzo had boarded a train heading to London Euston.
British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police were informed and arrested him as he arrived on the platform in London.
Canuzo was charged with murder on August 30, and today pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which has been accepted by the prosecution based on medical evidence.
Prosecutor Gordon Cole said: ‘The Crown has now had the benefit of a report from a doctor, and on Friday, a formal defence report.
‘The position is: we are minded to accept the new plea of guilty to the partial defence of diminished responsibility.’
He has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday 18 March.
Detective Inspector Eli Atkinson, who led the investigation, said: ‘This was an exceptionally traumatic incident for all those involved, especially Chintzia’s family and neighbours and emergency services who tried to help her.
‘While nothing can ever be done to bring Chintzia back, I do hope that the conclusion of this case will bring her family some closure.
‘Our thoughts remain with Chintzia’s friends and family at this time, and we would like to thank them for their assistance throughout our investigation.’