William Knighton - a case of matricide.
William Knighton - a case of matricide. William Knighton, a 22 year old coal miner, lived with his parents at 1 Bethel Street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. In the early hours of Tuesday the 8th of February 1927, Knighton went into his mother’s bedroom and cut her throat with a razor. He gave himself up later in the day but could not offer police any real motive for the killing. By all accounts he was on very good terms with his mother, 55 year old Ada Knighton. Knighton was tried at Derby on the 26th of February 1927 before Mr. Justice Branson. The prosecution relied principally upon his confession. The defence was one of insanity due to Knighton suffering from epilepsy. His counsel suggested that the killing took place during an epileptic fit. The jury did not accept this and he was found guilty. His appeal was heard on March the 21st, when the epilepsy issue was again raised and a special judgement of guilty but insane requested. The Lords of Appeal, Justices Avory, Sankey and Shea