Man who killed mum with crossbow said 'devil' made him do it

A man who used a crossbow to kill his mum told police officers that the “devil” made him do it, a court has heard.

Daniel Parker, 37, killed his 78-year-old mum Margaret at her home in Fernieside Crescent, Edinburgh on May 21, 2024.

Armed police had to force their way into the property after officers who arrived 20 minutes earlier heard women screaming inside the property.

Judge Lady Ross heard how Parker – who was suffering from a serious mental health condition – had also fired a crossbow at his sister and a neighbour.

He believed that his family had betrayed him and that his life was like the “Truman Show”, the Jim Carrey film in which the main character is unaware that his entire life is being filmed and broadcast as a reality TV show.

He believed his mum was poisoning his food and that cameras had been installed in the house to watch him.

Parker, a patient of the State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, was acquitted of murdering his mum and attempting to murder his sister and their neighbour.

He was also found not guilty of breaching firearms legislation by having a stun gun in his possession.

Ms Barron told the court that the Crown accepted not guilty pleas after psychiatrists concluded that his mental health was so poor that he didn’t “appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of his conduct”.

The advocate depute told the court that Parker was diagnosed with a “recurring personality disorder” in 2021 and that doctors described his symptoms as a “paranoid personality trait”.

The court heard that Mr Parker moved in with his mum in February 2023 and that his mental health had noticeably deteriorated.

Ms Barron added: “He would not take his medication and a delusion took hold that a gang was out to get him.

“The delusion developed into the belief that cameras were installed in the locus in order to watch him and that his mother was poisoning his food.”

On the day of the murder, Parker’s sister went to the house to help with chores.

At approximately 7.50am, Parker appeared and pointed a crossbow at his sister.

The court heard that he demanded to know what was going on.

“For approximately ten minutes, he was stating things like ‘you’re trying to kill me,’ ‘the gang’s after me,’ and ‘you’re in league’ with them,” Ms Barron told the court.

“During the incident he fired a crossbow bolt at his sister which struck her but did not penetrate her skin to any extent, causing a minor cut to her left chest. He fired a crossbow bolt at a neighbour.

“He fired a crossbow bolt at Margaret Parker striking her to the left side of her torso.”

Parker’s sister escaped but heard another bolt being fired and her mother screaming.

“Daniel Parker fired multiple crossbow bolts at Margaret Parker while he was alone in the locus with her and also stabbed her multiple times, including to her neck and torso,” Ms Barron said.

Parker’s sister was able to call her daughter who then phoned the emergency services after hearing screaming during the phone call.

Ms Barron told the court that officers took Parker to St Leonard’s police station in Edinburgh where he was interviewed in the presence of a solicitor and an “appropriate adult”.

Parker was admitted to the State Hospital on May 23, 2024.

A post-mortem of found that Mrs Parker had sustained four incised wounds to her neck and one bolt wound to her neck. Pathologists also found that she had sustained 11 bolt wounds to her torso among other injuries.

She added: “Other than a few minor ailments, she was in good health.”

Lady Ross told Parker that he was acquitted of the charges and imposed an interim compulsion order on him for treatment at the State Hospital.

She added: “Having regard to the psychiatric evidence, I acquit you of the charges on this indictment by reason of the special defence lodged on your behalf.”

Lady Ross continued the matter for ten further weeks. Parker will next appear at the High Court in Edinburgh for the court to consider a final disposal in this case on May 14, 2025.