View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Son who beat ex-BBC journalist father to death with a hammer given hospital order

By Press Gazette

A son who admitted beating his retired BBC journalist father to death with a hammer in a "shocking and gruesome" attack has been given a hospital order.

Joseph Cooper beat his father 64-year-old father Winton to death on 15 April 2011 at the cottage they shared in the picturesque Dorset village of Marnhull, near Sturminster Newton.

Winchester Crown Court heard last year how Cooper, 24, attacked his father with a hammer, three kitchen knives and a pair of large secateurs.

Cooper pleaded guilty to manslaughter through diminished responsibility but denied murder. The prosecution accepted his plea after reports found he was mentally ill.

According to the BBC, under the order he can only be discharged from hospital with the consent of the justice secretary or by a Mental Health Tribunal.

Cooper was a retired BBC Radio Sheffield reporter who was at the 1989 Hillsborough football tragedy where 96 Liverpool fans died. He was killed on the 22nd anniversary of the disaster.

Cooper moved to Dorset after his retirement to look after his elderly father and eventually his son came to stay. Jones said the pair lived a "peaceable existence" in the village revolving around going to the pub, local shops and home.

Content from our partners
Free journalism awards for journalists under 30: Deadline today
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition

Cooper attacked his father in December 2009 with a bar and pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm, the court was told at a hearing last August. 

In April last year Cooper launched the fatal attack on the landing of their home just hours after Winton Cooper had told neighbours his son "was acting strangely".

After the killing, Cooper phoned his brothers and mother Gail to say he had killed his father.

Two psychiatric reports found that Cooper suffered from such an abnormality of mind it had impaired his responsibility for his actions.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network