Worthing father found not guilty of murder.

A Worthing father who smothered his terminally-ill son with a pillow has been found not guilty of murder.

Andrew Wragg (37) had denied murdering Jacob in July last year, but had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminishes resonsibility.

His son Jacob (ten) suffered from the degenerative disease Hunter Syndrome. Earlier Lewes Crown Court had been told by the boy's grandmother,Gwendoline Richards, that his death 'was a release from being ill', even though she had not wanted him to die.

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Wragg was given a two-year suspended sentence at Lewes Crown Court after the jury accepted his mercy killing plea.

He had told the court that he and his wife were in an 'impossible and hopeless' situation looking after Jacob.

He said that before killing his son he looked into his eyes and he believed the boy could no longer recognise him.

The trial judge, Mrs Justice Anne Rafferty, said the case had been "exceptional", adding there was "nothing to be gained" from sending Wragg to jail.

For full story and pictures see West Sussex Gazette December 15