Doctor who killed own mother sent to secure mental health unit

Wednesday 19 August 2020

A doctor who stabbed his mother to death and then stopped his father from trying to save her life will remain in a secure psychiatric hospital until he is deemed well enough to leave.

Andrew Charles Nisbet (41) killed former honorary policewoman Pamela Nisbet (pictured top) in her kitchen on 6 August last year.

He was sentenced by the Royal Court this afternoon, having already admitted to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

After hearing from doctors that the clinical radiologist had severe Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger Syndrome, the Court issued an indeterminate treatment order, to be reviewed every nine months, and a restraining order, preventing Nisbet from contacting or going anywhere near his family. 

Outlining the facts of the case, Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit said that Nisbet had moved into an annex of his parents’ St. Peter home in November 2017, having returned to the island from Scotland with his family.

“Shortly after moving in, the defendant began making requests to his parents to make significant alterations to the annex, to develop it into a substantial separate dwelling,” he said.

“Mr and Mrs Nisbet did not consider the annex to be a long-term accommodation for the defendant and his family, and did not agree to all of the alterations he was seeking.”

Advocate Maletroit went on to say that Nisbet had become “fixated” on the idea that he must stay at the property. His mental health deteriorated to the extent that, when his parents did not agree to his demand to install a heat pump last January, Nisbet jumped out of a second storey window, seriously injuring his legs.

Pictured: The St. Peter property where Mrs Nisbet was killed last August.

Amid continuing disagreements about living arrangements, Mr and Mrs Nisbet reluctantly started eviction proceedings and a summons was served to their son on 2 August last year.

On 6 August, a meeting was held involving the Police, Children’s Services, Adult Mental Health Services to discuss Nisbet’s mental health and the eviction. Afterwards, a consultant nurse from AMHS and a social worker met Nisbet at the property to talk about the eviction. He told them he would “get arrested and kill himself” if it went ahead.

Around two hours later, Nisbet asked to meet his parents. His father telephoned the nurse, who advised against any contact with him, but Mrs Nisbet agreed to meet him and his partner that evening in the kitchen of the main house, while Mr Nisbet sat in a next door room.

The discussion did not go well and the partner left after around 20 minutes. Three minutes later, Mr Nisbet heard a scream and went into the kitchen to find his wife lying on the floor and bleeding from her neck. 

She was still breathing but Nisbet would not let his father near her. There was a struggle for a few minutes before the older man eventually forced his son out of a side door, which he locked.

When the emergency services arrived, the police found Nisbet in the annex and he was arrested without protest. Attempts to resuscitate Mrs Nisbet failed.

After listening to the facts of the case yesterday, the Royal Court heard from three doctors who had met Nisbet, who were unanimous in their view that he had an enduring mental health condition and he posed little risk to the general public.

They agreed that he needed specialist treatment, which would not be available in prison.

Defending Nisbet, Advocate Mark Boothman, read a letter from Nisbet to the Court, in which he said: “I do not remember the exact moments of August 2019 but I do not have any doubt that my physical self did these things and caused this great loss to both myself and the rest of my family.  I am so sorry for the immense hurt that this has caused.”

With the prosecution, defence, and expert witnesses all recommending a treatment order, the Royal Court agreed. Nisbet will remain in a secure unit in Essex but may move to a specialist autism facility in next two to three months, when a space becomes available.

After sentencing, the family issued a statement through the police, which said: “We love and miss Pam as a wife, mum and granny. Pam was a much loved Jersey resident who contributed to the Island throughout her life. This was a family tragedy and we kindly request privacy during this difficult time."

The Bailiff, Tim Le Cocq, was sitting with Jurats Christensen, Thomas and Ronge.