An 18-year-old who recorded the final hours of his mother’s life before killing her is being sentenced after admitting murder.
Tristan Thomas Roberts pleaded guilty to murdering Angela Shellis, 45, a teaching assistant, following a prolonged and premeditated attack in Prestatyn, north Wales.
Mold Crown Court heard Roberts held his mother hostage in her bedroom for several hours before luring her outside under the pretence of seeking medical help.
Instead, he led her to a nearby nature reserve where he repeatedly struck her with a hammer and strangled her. Her body was later discovered by walkers with severe head injuries.
Prosecutors said Roberts recorded a continuous audio lasting more than four hours, capturing events from the initial assault through to the fatal attack. The recording was described as too distressing to be played in court.
Evidence showed Roberts had spent weeks planning the killing, researching methods online and purchasing weapons including knives and a sledgehammer after turning 18.
He had also posted messages online expressing misogynistic views and discussing his intention to kill his mother. In one message, he described acting out of “hatred of women”, while others referred to “revenge, justice” and feelings of abandonment.
The court heard Roberts was active on online forums and messaging platforms, where he shared violent content and used multiple aliases. His activity had previously been flagged for threatening and abusive behaviour.
Investigators found he had attempted to use artificial intelligence tools to research how to commit murder, disguising his queries as part of a fictional project after initial refusals.
On the night of the attack, Roberts assaulted his mother in her bedroom before keeping her confined for hours. During this time, she remained conscious and pleaded for help, asking him to call emergency services.
He later persuaded her to leave the house, telling her she could receive treatment for her injuries, before carrying out the fatal attack in the nature reserve.
Following the killing, Roberts returned home, attempted to clean evidence and posted messages online referencing the attack. He was arrested later that day after police were alerted to the discovery of a body.
A psychiatric assessment found no evidence of a severe mental disorder that would impair his ability to understand or control his actions, beyond diagnoses of autism and ADHD.
Victim impact statements described Ms Shellis as a caring and devoted mother who had sought help for her son and remained concerned about his behaviour in the weeks before her death.
Her family said her death had caused profound and lasting trauma, with her son describing the loss as having “destroyed” the family.
The case has raised concerns about the role of online communities in reinforcing violent ideologies. Experts have warned that some online spaces associated with misogynistic “incel” subcultures and so-called “alpha male” narratives can contribute to the normalisation of hostility towards women, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
While no single factor has been identified as the cause of the attack, the court heard Roberts had engaged with content promoting misogyny, violence and domination, themes often linked to such online ecosystems.
A safeguarding review is expected to examine whether earlier intervention could have prevented the killing.