Wigton Man Jailed For 17 Years After Murdering His Father
A Wigton man has been sentenced to 17 years and 139 days in prison after being convicted of murdering his 73 year old father following a trial at Carlisle Crown Court.
Brian Smith, 33, of Friars Garth, Wigton, was sentenced on Friday, August 7, following his conviction for the murder of his father, Stanley Smith. A jury found him guilty after a trial in July.
The court heard that police were called in the early hours of December 22, 2025, after receiving a request for assistance from the North West Ambulance Service concerning a 73 year old man who was unresponsive and not breathing.
Smith initially told officers that his father's condition had resulted from a fall and said he had left him asleep on the floor. However, investigators later uncovered evidence that contradicted his account.
Forensic and medical evidence established that Stanley Smith suffered fatal injuries after significant pressure was applied to his neck, while CCTV footage helped investigators establish his final movements before his death.
Detectives said the investigation involved detailed forensic examination and medical evidence, which helped establish what had happened and ultimately supported the murder prosecution. Police said Smith's original explanation did not withstand scrutiny when compared with the evidence gathered during the investigation.
The court heard that Smith will have to serve 17 years and 139 days before becoming eligible for parole. The sentence brings the case to a conclusion following months of investigation and the subsequent Crown Court trial.
Police said the conviction followed extensive investigative work and praised those involved in building the case. The investigation established that Stanley's death was the result of fatal pressure to his neck rather than the fall initially described by his son.
The case has now resulted in Smith being held accountable for his father's murder, following the jury's unanimous guilty verdict and the sentence imposed at Carlisle Crown Court.
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