Stefania Glowka Acquitted of Mother Tamara Glowka Murder in Devizes Case
A jury at Bristol Crown Court found Stefania Glowka not guilty of murdering her elderly mother, Tamara Glowka, following a trial that focused on her mental state. Ms Glowka, 64, had admitted to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, arguing her severe depression significantly impaired her judgement when she strangled her mother.
Details of the Incident and Defence
Police were called to a flat in Keepers Road, Devizes, at 08:10 GMT on 25 December after reports of a serious assault. The court heard that Stefania Glowka strangled her mother with a belt during the night, after they had shared a Christmas Eve meal. Ms Glowka then attempted to take her own life, only to call 999 hours later, stating she had "committed a crime and needed to be held responsible."
The defence maintained that Ms Glowka, who had been her mother's primary carer since 2004, was in a "fog of despair" at the time. Evidence presented indicated both women had experienced declining mental health, with Tamara Glowka suffering from hallucinations and psychosis towards the end of her life. Stefania Glowka, who never married or had children and moved to the UK from Poland in the early 1990s, told police that she had wanted to "let her mum go." She described her decision as "spur of the moment," stating she "wasn't thinking clearly."
Psychiatric Testimony and Prosecution's Stance
Prosecutor Simon Jones contended the act was a "deliberate" and "carefully planned" decision. However, defence counsel Nicholas Corsellis countered that Ms Glowka's actions were a breakdown of a lifetime of devotion, driven by a severely impaired capacity for rational thought. Psychiatric experts offered conflicting assessments; while Dr Lucy Bacon stated Ms Glowka's thoughts were "strongly coloured by her depressive illness," she also believed Ms Glowka was capable of forming rational judgements. Another psychiatrist, Dr Richard Latham, concurred that Ms Glowka's depression did not substantially impair her ability to exercise control or comprehend her conduct.
Stefania Glowka is scheduled for sentencing at 14:00 BST.
