David Andrew Mapp, aged 59, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for the murder of his 82-year-old mother, Colleen Wilson. The incident occurred during a heated argument in July 2022 at their home in Tumbi Umbi, located on the New South Wales Central Coast. Mapp, in a moment of rage exacerbated by heroin withdrawal, threw a 15-kilogram pot plant, which contained soil and a partial brick, at his mother.
Justice Ian Harrison of the NSW Supreme Court acknowledged that Mapp’s actions did not exhibit classic remorse but concluded that the attack was spontaneous rather than premeditated; it stemmed from a loss of control rather than a calculated murder. He stated that Mapp had a tumultuous relationship with his mother, influenced by a long-standing struggle with addiction and a difficult upbringing marked by domestic violence.
Following the incident, Mapp attempted to revive his mother for around eight hours before eventually contacting emergency services. When help arrived, Wilson was found on the floor, covered with a red blanket, surrounded by blood and soil. Evidence presented during the trial included Mapp’s prior history of pawning his mother’s belongings to sustain his drug habit. This included an earlier instance where Wilson had to pay $700 to recover her television after Mapp had pawned it.
The court heard from Janice Fowler, Wilson’s sister, who expressed the profound grief and shock of losing her sister in such a tragic manner. A victim impact statement revealed feelings of betrayal and sorrow, labelling the incident as a “selfish and unimaginable way to die.”
Mapp was found guilty of Wilson’s murder in October 2024 after his guilty plea to manslaughter was rejected by prosecutors. His defence team argued the incident was impulsive, suggesting it was not the result of a premeditated plan to harm his mother for financial gain. They highlighted that there were previous instances when Mapp needed money without resorting to violence. However, the crown prosecutor contended that Mapp’s actions were driven by a desperate need for heroin, asserting that he intended to kill his mother.
Justice Harrison has set Mapp’s non-parole period to 15 years, with the sentence backdated to the date of his arrest, meaning he will be eligible for release in 2037. The case has highlighted the devastating impacts of addiction and the volatile dynamics that can manifest within families affected by substance abuse.
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