Killer son jailed for homicide after ‘stamp’ marks on mum’s physique matched coach treads
A man killed his own mum after ‘stamping on her face’ and was rumbled for his horror crime after police found his trainer tread patterns matched marks on her body.
Stephen Ball, 32, attacked Suzanne Galvin, 55, in their home in Bury last year. She was found with multiple patches of bruising to her body including ‘patterning’ to her face which was consistent with the sole of Mr Ball’s ASICS trainers, Bolton Crown Court heard.
Mr Ball, who had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder, was however found guilty of the latter on November 1. The killer son was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 15 years for the drug-induced rampage.
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Jurors previously heard that shortly before 8pm on September 16, 2023, a disturbance was heard by neighbours, coming out of the flat on Pear Avenue. Mr Ball was heard shouting: “Thieving b****” and “Mum let me in”, it was said.
(Image: MEN Media)
A number of calls were made to the emergency services, and at around the same time Mr Ball called his grandmother, Mary Galvin, who lives in Ireland, Gordon Cole KC, prosecuting, said.
“He said he had come back to the flat to find she was injured. He said he didn’t know if she had been attacked but said she was struggling to breathe,” the prosecutor continued.
He told his grandmother that Suzanne said she did not want to go to hospital and that she would go in the morning.
Mrs Galvin asked to speak to her daughter and could hear her breathing ‘erratically’, jurors heard. She tried to persuade Mr Ball to call an ambulance but he said he had ‘no credit’ and so called 999 herself, it was said.
(Image: GMP Handout)
Suzanne Galvin was found unresponsive on a mattress with extensive bruising and was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where she died two days later. Mr Ball was arrested at the scene and gave ‘conflicting’ accounts to the police, the court heard.
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.”
“Violence against women and girls remains a priority for GMP and we will do everything in our power to ensure those who commit these offences are identified, charged and brought to justice.
“If you or someone you know has been the victim of assault, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You will be believed and we will investigate every complaint.”
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