An 18-year-old young man was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 22 years and six months, after murdering his own mother with a hammer, in a crime marked by detailed planning and prior signs of violence.
Tristan Roberts, described as someone with misogynistic views and fascination with the film American Psychostarring Christian Bale, prepared the murder in detail.
According to the the young researched murder methods and ways to evade authoritieshaving considered the use of various weapons, including knives, hammers and an ax.
O attack began on the night of October 23, 2025in the house where he lived with his mother, Angela Shellis, aged 45, in Prestatyn, north Wales.
During the morning, convinced her to leave the house under the pretext of seeking medical help. Already in a nature reserve, He took a hammer out of his backpack and repeatedly hit her in the head.ending up killing her. Part of the attacks were recorded by himself.
“It’s going to be like American Psycho”
In previous weeks, the young man had left several messages on social media which now take on an unsettling meaning.
In an online forum, shared an image from the film American Psycho with the phrases: “I have urges” and “It’s going to be like American Psycho”.
During planning, rit still took place at a chatbot of Artificial Intelligenceto which asked what would be the best weapon to commit murder.
After a first refusal, reformulated the question claiming to be writing a bookthen managing to get a response.
On the day itself, left a recording announcing his intention to kill his mothertaking the name ‘Alex’.
After the crime, recorded the reaction on video: described the moment as “terrifying” and an “insane feeling”having also shared online that he had lived “the craziest day” of your life.
Various evidence left behind
O Angela Shellis’ body was found the next morningin a vegetation area, after an alert to the authorities. One blood trail of about 100 meters led to the location. Nearby were Gloves, a balaclava and the crutch of the victim, who suffered from a knee injury, were also found.o.
Initially, authorities admitted the hypothesis of a random attackbut video surveillance images showed mother and son leaving the house together in the early hours of the morning.
After the murderTristian Roberts returned home and left again, allegedly with the intention of cleaning up the crime scene. He had turned 18 just ten days earlier, which allowed him to legally acquire some of the objects used.
“No comments”
Arrested shortly afterwards, remained calm and limited himself to asking if the body found was that of his mother. During interrogations, always replied “no comments”.
When reading the sentence, the judge highlighted the cruelty of the crime and the control exercised over the victimhighlighting that everything becomes even more serious because it is a matricide.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office considered that the crime was highly calculated and highlighted the lack of remorse on the part of the young manadding that the victim’s final moments would have been particularly violent.
