Dorset murder of father by lighter fluid addict son
28th October 2019
3PB’s criminal law barrister Nicholas Cotter, acting for the defence, assisted in reducing the life tariff of a son who sadly murdered his father when under the influence of butane gas.
Dominic Hodgson, 37, thought his father had "turned evil" when he inflicted multiple head wounds at their shared home in Sherborne, Dorset, in May.
Robert Hodgson, 72, had reluctantly let his son stay with him as he had nowhere to go, Winchester Crown Court heard.
The defendant admitted murder and was jailed for life with a 14-year minimum.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Garnham told the defendant: "Your father took you in because you had nowhere else to go. You were not suffering from a psychiatric illness. You were, however, intoxicated with butane gas and experiencing hallucinations as a consequence. I recognise, partly after reading the letter you have written to the court, that you are experiencing genuine remorse."
The case was covered extensively in the news including the BBC.
Related Articles
-
3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), one of the UK's largest chambers, is celebrating this year again its rankings - totalling 167 - in the Legal 500 2025’s edition published today, a 15% increase on last year’s 145. The set is ranked in 23 areas of law, across 4 UK Circuits: London, South Eastern, Western and the Midlands. 3PB’s barristers are also ranked in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. The Legal 500 acknowledges 3PB...
Continue reading -
3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) breaks another record in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 96 rankings (81 last year) achieved by 80 of its barristers. The national set is rewarded with accolades in 21 areas of law, in the London Bar as well as in the North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Midlands Circuits and exceptional comments for its expertise and service delivery. Click here to view the full...
Continue reading -
3PB's crime barrister Thomas Acworth (pictured here) acted for JP, a 60-year-old man of previous good character, who was accused of serious sexual offences said to have taken place from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. He was tried before HHJ Feest KC at Winchester Crown Court. The indictment included 22 incidents of what would now be charged as rape of a child under 13. The litigation involved considerable arguments over disclosure, which were...
Continue reading -
3PB Barristers criminal barrister Berenice Mulvanny represented one of two Chichester community rangers who were charged with assault and false imprisonment of a 15 year old boy in Superdrug on 22nd March 2023. This case attracted considerable media attention after a short clip of the incident was published on the internet with allegations the incident was racially motivated. Miss Mulvanny's client detained the youth after being headbutted by the youth who was trying to shoplift....
Continue reading
