Autistic man beat mother to death

An autistic man beat his mother to death because he could not cope with the stress of moving home, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Bijan Afshar, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his mother Lynn Cassidy at her home in Deepdales, Bray, Co Wicklow, on June 26 or 27, 2014.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright yesterday told defence counsel Michael O’Higgins SC that she believes Mr Afshar had no control over his actions when he lashed out and beat his mother to death.