A GRAYS woman has been cleared of murdering her mother after a jury delivered its verdict after three days of deliberation.

Cheryl Banks, 60, had admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Experts differed over the state of her health when she smothered 89-year-old Winfred Banks to death in June last year at the home they shared with Mrs Banks' husband and son.

Today (Tuesday, 1 March) the jury accepted the opinion of psychiatrist Dr Alan Reid that Mrs Banks was suffering severe depression at the time of the incident.

Dr Reid's opinion was Mrs Banks suffered depressive episodes that at times were severe. He believed her condition was a recognised mental health disorder.

He said she did know she was killing her mother and that she knew it was wrong but she had thought her future was 'catastrophic' and no one would be able to look after her mother and that the solution was to take her mother's life and then her own.

Dr Reid added: "I think she was suffering from an abnormality in mental functioning as part of a recognised mental health condition. In my view this impaired her ability to make a rational judgement about what she should do. This provides a clear explanation of what happened. I cannot postulate any other explanation of her conduct."

The prosecution had said that in the opinion of their expert, Mrs Banks was not suffering from a recognised severe illness. Dr Reid countered that view, saying: "Your expert does not believe she suffers from a depressive illness at all because when you look at aspects of her presentation there are things that are not present in her in her case. We have different views on this.

"In my view she is someone who is severely depressed but is able to put on a very good front, his opinion is that is not correct. We differ."

Mrs Banks has been remanded in custody and will return to Basildon Crown Court for sentencing in April.

She had already submitted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility so has been convicted of that offence.

She is due to be sentenced on 1 April.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Kevin Hughes, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This is a truly tragic case and one that has really saddened me and my team. "Winifred Grover was an elderly woman in need of constant care. "I want to extend my condolences, and those of my team, to her family." Previous reports Court hears how daughter killed her mother. Harrowing moments relived in court on audio and video. Expert points to reasons behind daughter's state of mind as she killed mum. Opinions vary as to mental health of woman who killed her mother. Trial goes to fifth day. Jury still undecided after afternoon of deliberation following summing up.