Chucky-Obsessed Teenager Murders Father After Anti-Psychotic Medication Reduced
Fabio Botros, a 19-year-old man with a documented obsession with horror movies and an extensive collection of Chucky dolls, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his father, Smad Samir Botros Farag, aged 57. The tragic incident occurred at their family home in Brighton on April 1, 2025, following a heated argument about baggage allowance ahead of a planned holiday to Egypt.
Mental Health Deterioration and Misdiagnosis
The court heard that Botros, who is now 20 years old, suffered from severe mental health issues, including a confirmed diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Prior to the killing, his anti-psychotic medication had been substantially reduced by healthcare professionals who mistakenly attributed his symptoms to autism and depression. This critical reduction in treatment occurred despite Botros having shown significant improvement while on the medication.
Her Honour Judge Christine Laing KC described this as a cruel aspect of the case, noting that the decision to cut back on his medication directly contributed to the fatal attack. In the weeks leading up to the incident, Botros had withdrawn from social contact, stopped attending college, and was observed speaking to himself and acting on hallucinations.
Violent Attack Leaves Multiple Victims Injured
On the day of the murder, police officers responding to the scene found two other victims outside the Brighton address: an 11-year-old boy with a head injury and a woman with significant knife wounds. Both were treated by paramedics at the scene and subsequently rushed to hospital for emergency care.
Representing the Crown, Ryan Ritcher detailed the horrific events, stating that Botros was seen with one hand around his father's neck and the other clutching a blood-drenched hammer. Mr. Farag had been beaten over the head with the hammer before Botros retrieved a large kitchen knife from a drawer and stabbed the woman in the face. The young boy was also struck on the head with the hammer during the violent outburst.
History of Psychiatric Treatment and Hospitalisation
The court was informed that Botros had a long history of mental health struggles, having been treated as an inpatient in psychiatric hospitals on at least two separate occasions. In 2024, a social worker reported that he appeared vacant and had asked for assistance in ending his own life, highlighting the depth of his distress.
Despite his father's urgent request for a mental health assessment just days before the killing, no intervention was made in time to prevent the tragedy. Dr. Michael Kavuma confirmed the schizophrenia diagnosis to the court, underscoring the severity of Botros' condition.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Following his guilty plea to manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm to the two other victims, Fabio Botros has been handed an indefinite hospital order. This decision reflects the court's recognition of his profound mental health issues and the need for ongoing psychiatric care.
The case has raised serious questions about the adequacy of mental health assessments and the dangers of misdiagnosis, particularly in young adults with complex psychiatric needs. The reduction of anti-psychotic medication, based on an incorrect assumption of autism and depression, ultimately led to a preventable loss of life and left a family shattered by violence.
