A man has been convicted of murdering his mother by stamping on her head in a brutal attack at their shared home following a trial at Bolton Crown Court in Greater Manchester. Stephen Ball, aged 32, assaulted his mother, Suzanne Galvin, aged 55, on September 16, 2023. The court heard that Suzanne was discovered with extensive bruising on her body and distinct bruising on her face that matched the treads on her son’s Asics trainers.
Ball, who initially denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter based on diminished responsibility, did not testify during the trial. However, the jury unanimously found him guilty of killing his mother. Neighbours reported a disturbance at the flat on Pear Avenue, where Ball was heard shouting derogatory terms and demanding entry into the home. He then contacted his grandmother, Mary Galvin in Ireland, claiming to have found Suzanne injured.
Despite Mary’s urging to seek medical help for Suzanne, Ball refrained from calling emergency services, stating lack of credit on his phone. Eventually, Mary called 999 herself, leading paramedics to find Suzanne unresponsive on a mattress. She was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital but succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head two days later, with patterned bruising evident on her face.
The court heard that trainers found in Ball’s bedroom matched the bruising pattern on Suzanne’s face, indicating he had stomped on her head or face. Ball provided conflicting statements to authorities post his arrest, and his charge was elevated to murder following Suzanne’s death. Described as having an argumentative and aggressive relationship, both mother and son were known to struggle with addiction.
After being found guilty, Ball was remanded in custody and will be housed at Ashworth Hospital until his sentencing on November 1, pending arguments about the minimum term of his life imprisonment. Judge Martin Walsh indicated that Ball is likely to be detained at Ashworth for an extended period before being considered for release by the Parole Board.