Woman on trial for mother's Christmas murder denies murder

A woman on trial for murder calmly told police she had killed her mother on Christmas Day after a failed suicide attempt, a court has heard. Stefania Glowka, 64, is accused of murdering her 86-year-old mother, Tamara Glowka, at their home in Devizes, Wiltshire, on December 25 last year. She has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Prosecutors at Bristol Crown Court described the killing as a "very deliberate act of violence," alleging Glowka strangled her mother with a belt. The court heard the defendant had been her mother's sole carer for 17 years and told authorities she "could no longer cope." The prosecution stated her plan was to take her own life after the killing, but her attempts to stab herself in the stomach and neck failed.

In video and audio evidence played to the jury, Glowka is heard telling officers, "Good morning I just killed my mother." She added, "I tried to harm myself as well but I am very weak. Please help me," and later stated, "I strangled her. I am a retired vet so I know for sure she's dead." She described herself as being "at the end of my road."

The initial call to police was made at 8:11 a.m....