Dad on 'mercy killing' murder charge

With his head bowed and tears in his eyes, former soldier Andrew Wragg, 36, stood before Chichester magistrates on Tuesday to face the charge of murdering Jacob at the family home in Henty Close, Worthing, on Saturday night.

Jacob's mother Mary, 40, had also been arrested but she was released without charge.

Wragg's distraught family and the country's media packed into courtroom one, all listening intently as harrowing details were revealed into how a man described as a loving father found himself in this position.

Jacob suffered with Hunter's Syndrome, a hereditary disorder which causes dwarfism and mental disabilities, and, according to prosecutor Angela McGuiness, he had become so ill, he hardly recognised his own father. She described it as a "tragic case".

Mr Wragg was said to have told police officers as he was being driven to custody: "He is at peace now. I loved him so much. It was a mercy killing."

A WORTHING father allegedly told police he smothered his terminally ill son to death in an act of mercy.

Former serviceman Andrew Wragg, 36, appeared at Chichester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to face the charge of murdering his 10-year-old son Jacob at the family home in Henty Close on Saturday night.

Mr Wragg's distraught family and the country's media listened intently as Angela McGuiness, the crown prosecutor, said he allegedly told police officers as he was being driven into custody: "He is at peace now. I loved him so much. It was a mercy killing."

With his head bowed, Mr Wragg spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

Miss McGuiness told the packed courtroom this was a tragic case.

She said Jacob had been born in 1993 with the genetic disorder, Hunter's Syndrome, a terminal condition with symptoms including dwarfism and mental disabilities.

Mr Wragg and his 40-year-old wife, Mary, who was also arrested but later released without charge, cared for Jacob.

Miss McGuiness said: "The crown does not suggest either parent was not caring or loving towards the child."

Miss McGuiness said Mr Wragg had been working in Iraq for two months as a security officer and returned home to his wife, Jacob and their other son, six-year-old George, a few weeks ago.