Man who murdered his own mother jailed for life

Police described Stephen Ball's actions as a "drug induced violent assault"

A man from Bury has been jailed for life for murdering his mother in what police described as a "drug induced violent assault".

Stephen Ball, 32, was initially arrested on suspicion of assault on Saturday 16 September 2023, after police attended the Bury home of Suzanne Galvin, and found her unresponsive with visible blood and extensive bruising, a court heard.

Ms Galvin died from her injuries two days later and a subsequent investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) found markings on her skin similar to the tread on Ball's trainers, though he denied any involvement.

Ball, of Pear Avenue, was found guilty of murder at Bolton Crown Court on Friday and was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in jail.

At the trial, the court heard that at just before 20:00 BST on 16 September 2023, a disturbance was reported at the address of the defendant’s mother, with a man heard shouting for his mum to let him in.

Shortly after this time, Ball called his grandmother, who lives in Ireland, telling her that he had come back to the flat to find his mother injured and that she was struggling to breathe.

'Completely innocent lady'

He told her that his mum’s wrist was broken, and she had bruising to her eyes and shoulder.

She asked for her grandson to put the phone near to her daughter and could hear that her breathing was erratic.

The court heard how Ball's grandmother asked him to call an ambulance, but he said he was not able to, due to having no credit on his phone.

She then asked her grandson to take his mother to the hospital, but he said that Ms Galvin did not want to go, and would go in the morning.

When police attended the scene after receiving the report of a disturbance, Ball was still there, and officers described his accounts of how Ms Galvin sustained her injuries as "conflicting".

After his arrest, a pair of Ball’s trainers that had been seized by police were found to have to same tread pattern as some of the marks on his mother's skin.

Senior investigating officer, Duncan Thorpe said: “Firstly, our thoughts and prayers remain with Mary, Suzanne’s mum and Stephen’s grandmother, who has lost her daughter in the most terrible of circumstances.

"This was a drug induced violent and sustained assault on a lady who was completely innocent.

"Whatever sentence was imposed today, sadly it will not bring Suzanne back."

He said violence against women and girls remained a priority for GMP and they would do everything in their power to ensure those who committed these offences were brought to justice.