Family of Powys woman killed by son say death may have been prevented

Margaret Joyce Griffiths, or Joyce as she was known, was attacked by her son John at the family farm in Llanfrynach, near Brecon on the Friday evening of August 26 last year. He was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act after admitting manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

The much-loved mum, sister, mother-in-law, aunt, and friend will be remembered by her family as a farmer’s wife “whose long life on the family farm was governed by the seasons and a deep appreciation of the natural world”.

In addition to her passions for natural medicine, music, and poetry she also played a very active role in the local church and village community where she lived.

OTHER NEWS:

• Organisers of Powys Pride event explain why there won't be a festival this year
• Powys man avoids jail after police raided home to find vile child abuse videos
• Woman found ex-partner dead in her bed after returning from holiday, inquest hears

In a moving tribute, the family said: "We cannot as a family begin to convey the shock, heartbreak, and devastation that the events of the night have caused us, the night that changed our lives forever.

"We never in our wildest nightmares imagined that John was capable of such a heinous attack. We don’t think that any of us will ever get over how much mum suffered in her final hours at the hands of her son, our brother.

"We think this will haunt us for all of time."

Griffiths, who his family said was a "kind, funny, clever and a caring dad to his daughters", had been sectioned and medicated with antipsychotic drugs while living abroad with his family after his mental health deteriorated.

After returning to Wales in 2020, Griffiths entered the care of the local mental health authority.

Joyce's family said they hope steps can be taken to "prevent this devastation being inflicted on other victims' families, friends, and communities."

They continued: "There is no doubt in the family’s mind that the frenzied onslaught that night was provoked by the actions of the mental health team and that his deteriorating behaviour was not helped but made worse by them in the weeks leading up to the incident.

"We believe mum’s death could have been prevented.

"As a family we now need for John to be kept medicated and detained in a secure mental health facility for a very, very long time so that several generations of our family can try to begin to heal. We have very grave concerns that should he be released; another life could be lost.

"We would like to finish by giving our heartfelt thanks to the emergency responders on the night in question, particularly the Welsh Air Ambulance, their heroic efforts gave mum the best chance of survival but tragically her injuries were too much for her to overcome."

Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council said the family will be “at the heart of out learning from these events” which will part of an independent review.

In a joint statement issued following the outcome of the case, they said: “We extend our sincere condolences to the family at this time, for the tragic loss of Joyce and the impact felt across the whole family. Their voice will be at the heart of our learning from these events.

“The Health Board and Local Authority are fully committed to the independent review process that is taking place, the findings of which will be made public following the conclusion of that process.”