Man admits killing father, 73, on first day of murder trial

A man has admitted killing his 73-year-old father – on the day his murder trial was due to begin.

Christopher Monro, 30, pleaded guilty to killing Peter Monro at the latter’s home in Bath, Somerset, on 11 February.

A carer found the elderly man with knife wounds in a bedroom shortly after noon. He was declared dead not long afterwards.

Monro, from Oxford, changed his plea to guilty at Bristol Crown Court on Monday. He was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on 7 November.

Avon and Somerset Police said Monro had been staying with his father the weekend before the murder, with several people reporting having heard an argument.

Monro returned to Oxford after the attack. Detectives traced his movements back to his home, where he was arrested by Thames Valley Police.

In a statement issued after the guilty plea, Mr Monro’s family said he was an “incredibly eccentric, funny, intelligent and unique man”.

“He refused to be anything other than himself. A man of his own time. No one else’s,” they said.

“His love of literature carried him through life, and his sharp mind was impossible to beat.

“We hope he is now with the swallows and thank Avon and Somerset Police for their professionalism and support through all of this.”

Det Insp Neil Meade, who led the investigation, said the past six months had been “incredibly painful” for Mr Monro’s family.

He thanked those who had provided police with information in the early stage of their investigation.