A young autistic man has been jailed for five years for fatally choked his 15-year-old sister at a holiday park.
Matthew Selby, 20, attacked his sister Amanda after an argument in a caravan at the Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Towyn, near Abergele, North Wales, on Saturday July 31 last year.
Police were called to reports of a "domestic disturbance" at the park but Amanda sadly died at the scene.
At Mold Crown Court on Friday, the 20-year-old, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility at an earlier hearing, was give an extended sentence of 10 years – made up of a five-year custodial term and five years on extended licence.
The court heard Selby had autism and mental health conditions that triggered the attack.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said the extended licence is considered necessary to protect members of the public from the risks posed by Selby.
Passing sentence, the judge said: “The family has been shattered by what happened that day in July last year.”
The court heard that the siblings had been on holiday with their father Anthony when they returned to their caravan after a trip to Rhyl and began arguing.
Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, said Selby lunged at his sister after she hit him with a plug, causing a “trivial” injury to his bottom lip.
Amanda fell to the floor between two beds in the confined room and Selby then got on top of her, the court heard.
Mr Baxter said: “Mr Selby Senior tried to climb over one of the beds and did all he could to help but was unable to get between his children.
“His son was too strong, his rage too high, and his daughter had nowhere to move.”
The court heard that, as she lay underneath her brother, Amanda said: “Tell Mum I love her.”
Mr Baxter said Mr Selby pleaded with his son to get off Amanda but he did not get up until she had stopped breathing.
He said an “emotional” and “upsetting” 999 call showed Mr Selby’s “desperation” as he tried everything he could to move his daughter on to her back or out of the room but was not able to.
Police arrived and arrested Selby, the court heard.
It is believed Amanda, who was described by her family as a "caring and thoughtful" teenager, died from asphyxia. Her throat was crushed and her external airways blocked, an inquest heard.
Mr Baxter said Amanda’s parents had “quite understandably” chosen not to make victim statements in the case.
Selby has autism spectrum disorder with intermittent explosive disorder, which causes aggressive outbursts, as well as a depressive disorder, the prosecutor said.
Gordon Cole KC, defending, said attempts have been made to see whether the court could impose a hospital order on the defendant.
He said: “In short, it can’t, and we accept it must be a custodial sentence.”
He said he had spoken to Selby’s mother before the hearing and told the court: “This is horrific in the sense that she has, to all intents and purposes, lost two children, but she is very much aware of the issues and difficulties this defendant has and is here to support him.”
Selby appeared via videolink from HMP Berwyn for the hearing in February of this year, at which point he entered a guilty plea to the manslaughter of Amanda.
Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, said the Crown accepted the plea to manslaughter, based on close analysis of psychiatric reports.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "I too have read the reports from both psychiatrists and plainly I understand the decision taken by the Crown."
Sentencing on Friday, Judge Rowlands told Selby it was “an extremely unusual and sad case which presents the court this morning with a difficult task”.
He said Selby had been diagnosed with autism at 16 and his parents suggested there had been little real support from the authorities.
He was convicted of two offences of battery, against his sister and mother, in 2015 and had previous cautions for violence, the court heard.
Following her death, Amanda's family released a statement through North Wales Police which said: "Amanda was a loving daughter and granddaughter - she was caring, thoughtful, liked to help others and very much loved. She will be very sadly missed."
Her school, Droylsden Academy in Greater Manchester, also paid tribute to her.
A message on its website said: "Our school family is devastated by this awful news. Amanda was a lovely student and she will be sorely missed by students and staff."
Teachers praised the Year 10 pupil's performance in previous newsletters published by Droylsden Academy, in Tameside, Greater Manchester.
A large emergency services response, including an air ambulance, had scrambled to Ty Mawr, following Amanda's death.
At the time eyewitnesses said there were two ambulances and three rapid response vehicles, as well as three police cars in attendance.
Images from the scene showed dozens of people waiting in a car park while an air ambulance and police cars were parked nearby.
Another image showed a caravan taped off by detectives.
Shocked families told how they had seen about eight police cars and multiple ambulances at the park.
One mum-of-two told the Mail Online at the time: "We are staying two rows behind where it happened and didn't hear a single thing.
"I can't stop thinking about it because my son is 16. To come away on holiday and not go home with that special person is tragic. It's a normal family-orientated site."
Amanda's Jiu Jitsu club, Kamiza Dojo, said she and her mother had been a big part of the club for many years.
It said: "Our club is saddened to hear the tragic news that one of our students, Amanda Selby, has lost her life while on holiday with her family.
"The Kamiza Dojo family is truly devastated by this awful news....
"We are truly heartbroken, Amanda will be sorely missed."
A spokesman for Ty Mawr Holiday Park previously said: "Ty Mawr is a very popular 100 acre family park which welcomes tens of thousands of happy holidaymakers every year.
“This was an isolated and unprecedented incident which happened inside a caravan. We are shocked that such a tragic situation happened in such a safe and happy environment, where families come to relax and enjoy themselves."
