Islington: Son jailed for killing his ‘hardworking, joyful’ mother

Darren Constant, 39, killed Judy Constant, 62 at a property in Marlborough Road, Upper Holloway, on July 4, 2018.
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A son has been jailed for killing his ‘hardworking, joyful’ mother in Islington.

Darren Constant, 39, killed Judy Constant, 62 at a property in Marlborough Road, Upper Holloway, on July 4, 2018, the day after officers had been called there to an assault.

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During the Met Police investigation, detectives found that Judy, who had been beaten by her son, had bruising all over her body and there was evidence of a huge number of old and far more recent injuries.

Before she died, an ambulance was called for Judy.

Medics attended the address and Constant could be heard telling his mother the excuses she should give for her injuries.

Judy Constant, 62, was killed by her son Darren at a property in Islington in July 2018. Credit: Met PoliceJudy Constant, 62, was killed by her son Darren at a property in Islington in July 2018. Credit: Met Police
Judy Constant, 62, was killed by her son Darren at a property in Islington in July 2018. Credit: Met Police

Those instructions were captured on a body-worn video and Constant was arrested.

Judy refused to go to hospital and continued to refuse despite medics believing she had suffered a brain bleed. Sadly, she was found dead the next day.

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A post-mortem examination confirmed her cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Constant, of Carterhatch Lane, Enfield, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday February 13, to serve a minimum of nine years and four months after previously pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his mother.

He was also handed an indefinite restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim’s three surviving sisters and two of his former partners.

Following the sentencing her family said: “Today’s sentencing brings the end to over four and a half years of anguish, after our beloved sister Judy was killed by her son.

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“Judy was a joyful person, very open, hardworking and honest. In her youthful days, she was the most vivacious amongst the siblings.

“She largely raised Darren on her own and provided everything he could wish for. He betrayed her love by both physically and mentally abusing her over many years, ultimately resulting in her death.

“No sentence, no matter the length will make amends for what he did to his own mother, the woman who gave him life only for him to cruelly take hers. Whilst he plead guilty to Manslaughter, this comes after four years of denying any responsibility or accepting any blame.

“As a family it has been a long journey to reach today’s outcome, we recall the day we learned of Judy’s death as though it were yesterday. She is deeply missed by us all. We would also like to thank both the police homicide team and barristers who worked so hard to bring justice for Judy.”

Darren Constant, 39, has been jailed for killing his mother Judy. Credit: Met PoliceDarren Constant, 39, has been jailed for killing his mother Judy. Credit: Met Police
Darren Constant, 39, has been jailed for killing his mother Judy. Credit: Met Police
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Det Insp Frank Copley said: “This was a shocking, tragic offence made all the more painful by the fact that Judy’s killer was her son.

“Her protective, maternal instincts had prevented her from reporting the violent abuse that she had clearly endured at his hands for some time.

“I believe it was those same instincts that stopped her from going to hospital for the treatment that may have saved her life.

“She was a well-liked lady and it is awful, truly awful, that her life ended in such a brutal way by the man she had raised and cared about so much.

“It is clear her family and friends will all miss her, and myself and the team continue to think of them.”