Plaistow son who suffocated terminally ill mum admits manslaughter

A man who claims he suffocated his mother with a pillow in a ‘mercy killing’ has admitted manslaughter.

Myrna Holman, 76, was suffering from terminal cancer and her son Roland Holman, 55, insisted she had begged him to end her life.

The Old Bailey was told that Holman had been taking turns to tend to her with other relatives when he suffocated her on June 1 2013.

He was charged with murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Psychiatrists accept that he was suffering from a depressive illness which would have diminished his responsibility at the time of the incident in Routemaster Close, Plaistow.

Holman of Jedburgh Road, Plaistow, is due to be sentenced on January 17.