A son accused of killing his mother had told his aunt days before that he knew how to cause someone “maximum damage”, a court heard.

Jamie Burnett has denied murdering his mum Lesley Spearing at her home in Oast View Terrace, Rainham, on October 10, 2019.

The 32-year-old, who suffers from schizophrenia and psychosis, has also pleaded not guilty to her manslaughter.

His aunt and Ms Spearing’s sister, Susan Nash, gave evidence at his trial at Maidstone Crown Court today (March 3).

The jury heard that around Christmas in 2018, Ms Nash called the police after she saw Burnett with his hands around Ms Spearing’s neck and said he was then admitted to hospital.

She explained that following the incident, a meeting was held between interested parties where it was decided the defendant could not live with his mother as his behaviour was too “volatile”.

He instead lived in supported accommodation in Chatham but would still contact and visit his family members.

Ms Nash said Ms Spearing spoke with her son’s care coordinator in the days leading up to her death as she was told they were going to stop Burnett’s injections used to treat his psychosis.

She told the court: “Lesley said he was really unwell and needed help and they could not stop his injections because of how his behaviour was.

“She asked them not to tell Jamie she had phoned because she was scared about what he would do.”

However, his doctors did tell Burnett of the conversation and Ms Nash said he went “mental” when he found out and shouted at Ms Spearing, telling her she had “ruined [his] life”.

Ms Nash added: “He said ‘I am going to be doing life, throw away the key this is my life now’.”

Three days later, the sisters visited Burnett at his flat, as he was concerned someone was breaking in while he was sleeping and stealing his tobacco.

While there, he asked his aunt whether she knew “how to stab someone” and explained to her he knew how to cause “maximum damage” and that “you stick it in and twist it”, the court was told.

It is alleged Burnett stabbed his mum in the neck with a serrated knife and “stamped” on her head before fleeing the scene and heading towards Rainham High Street.

The jury was also played the two 999 calls the defendant made to SECamb and the police shortly after leaving Oast View Terrace, where he admits to “assaulting” someone.

He is heard telling the ambulance operator he “could not care less” if the patient was breathing and that they should “wait for the trial” when she asked him for details about what happened.

Burnett also said he was bleeding and there was blood everywhere before eventually hanging up.

He then called the police, where he told the operator he had assaulted his mum and told them where officers could find him in Station Road, Rainham.

Burnett was arrested on suspicion of GBH and treated by paramedics for two lacerations to his fingers before being taken by ambulance to Medway Maritime Hospital.

Giving evidence, paramedics Molly Gifford and Donna Walker said Burnett had blood on his clothing, hands and face and told them he had “slashed his mum’s throat”.

Ms Walker said when she asked the defendant if he meant to do it, he had told her he did.

Burnett was later arrested on suspicion of murder while he was in the hospital.

Last week, the court heard that Ms Spearing’s younger son Stephen Burnett and niece Kiri Burnett were at the property when she was allegedly stabbed by the defendant.

Ms Burnett told the jury she heard “screaming” and immediately ran towards the noise where she saw her cousins “wrestling” in the kitchen and Burnett was holding a knife.

The trial, which is being presided over by Judge Philip St John-Stevens, continues.