Teenager fatally stabbed mum before taking his life

A teenager stabbed his mother to death before taking his own life just minutes later, an inquest has heard.

The inquest in Reading recorded mum-of-three Mayawati Bracken’s death as unlawful killing, and her son Julian Bracken's as suicide.

Mr Bracken, 18, stabbed his mother in her car when they were close to Flowers Hill, near their family home in Pangbourne, on 4 January, the inquest heard.

He took his own life on the railway line near Pangbourne Station moments later, with the knife used to kill Ms Bracken found nearby.

The court heard how passers-by came across the car and found 56-year-old Ms Bracken in the driver’s seat with stab wounds to her chest.

Members of the public attempted to help her, but she died at the scene shortly afterwards from a combination of blood loss and shock.

One witness later told police they had seen a young man get out of the car and walk away, and that he had been carrying a knife.

Berkshire coroner Heidi Connor said the incident had been "unique" and "immensely tragic".

"It's not up to me to rule what Julian's intentions were when he used the knife resulting in his mother's death," she said.

"We have heard that Julian did not give his family any cause for concern before he entered the vehicle."

She told the hearing that there had been a "very wide-ranging investigation" into the causes of the incident.

Ms Connor added that there was no evidence that Mr Bracken was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the incident.

The court did hear of a paramedic being called to the family home on Christmas Day because Mr Bracken experienced some sort of panic attack.

The following day he made brief contact with NHS Talking Therapies, who help people with anxiety and depression.

But the inquest also heard from Thames Valley Police, and his school Radley College in Abingdon, who both said the teenager had never been a cause for concern.

Det Insp Stuart May said there was "no clear evidence" as to what triggered the events.

"We have a detailed understanding of what happened, but unfortunately we have been unable to ascertain why it took place," he said.

Had he survived, there would have been "sufficient evidence" for Mr Bracken to be charged with the killing of his mother, he added.

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