Teenager's Chucky Obsession Leads to Fatal Hammer Attack on Father
A young man obsessed with the notorious Chucky horror film series has been convicted after beating his father to death with a hammer before violently attacking his mother and an 11-year-old boy in their family home. Fabio Botros, now aged 20, launched the horrific assault shortly before breakfast as his family prepared for a holiday trip to Egypt in April of last year.
Scene of Bloody Carnage in Quiet Brighton Street
Lewes Crown Court heard how Botros first attacked his 57-year-old father, Emad Botros-Farag, with a hammer before embarking on a terrifying rampage through their Brighton residence. Police arriving at the quiet residential property discovered a scene of bloody carnage, with the Egyptian-born Deliveroo driver found sitting on the sofa with the hammer embedded in his skull. He had suffered catastrophic head injuries and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Outside the property, officers discovered Botros' mother, Maria Marvin, and an 11-year-old boy both bleeding from multiple stab wounds. They were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment while Botros' sister, Giulia, was found nearby in a state of severe shock and distress. Armed police subsequently arrested the then-19-year-old Botros inside the family home.
Mental Health Deterioration and Horror Film Fixation
The court proceedings revealed that Botros had a significant history of mental health problems, including undiagnosed autism and what has since been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia. His fixation with horror films, particularly the gruesome Child's Play series featuring the murderous doll Chucky, had become increasingly obsessive in the months leading up to the attack.
Prosecutor Ryan Richter told the court: "He had become fixated with horror films. He spent considerable sums amassing a collection of Chucky dolls." Botros kept these dolls in his bedroom where he would spend hours watching the films alone, with his mental state deteriorating significantly throughout 2024.
Tragic Medication Reduction and Family Holiday Plans
Medical records presented to the court showed that Botros had been treated as an in-patient at two separate mental health units before being placed on anti-psychotic medication. While this treatment initially appeared effective, a later decision to gradually reduce his medication and replace it with antidepressants had tragic consequences.
Mr Richter explained: "It was quite clear that reduced dose later had tragic effects." Botros began deteriorating again, talking to himself, staying up all night pacing the house, and failing to attend college. His father had requested an urgent referral to mental health services in March 2025, but before this could be arranged, the family had planned their Easter holiday to Egypt.
Morning of Violence Unfolds
The court heard how the family had packed their bags and were waiting for a taxi to the airport when the tragedy unfolded. Botros, who had been seen talking to himself earlier that morning, came downstairs and argued with his father about luggage restrictions. The disagreement escalated rapidly, with Botros grabbing a hammer from under the kitchen sink and attacking his father.
Alerted by her husband's cries of "Stop, Stop. Please Stop!" Maria Marvin ran into the kitchen and attempted to wrestle the hammer from her son's grasp. Botros then grabbed a kitchen knife and began stabbing his mother, causing injuries to her face and torso. His sister Giulia tried to intervene, shouting from an upstairs window: "No, No! Stop. Help! Help! Call the police."
Hallucinations and Alternate Reality Beliefs
Since the incident, Botros has revealed to medical professionals that he experienced severe auditory and visual hallucinations. He believed that a character from the Chucky movies, Pearl, spoke to him and urged him to kill someone, promising a romantic relationship if he complied. Botros told doctors he believed the life he led was not real and that an alternate reality awaited him, where killing would elevate him to sainthood and bring his family back to life.
Appearing in court via video link, Botros sat emotionless as he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, one charge of wounding with intent, and one charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Judge's Sentencing and Community Impact
Judge Christine Laing KC described the case as "profoundly sad," noting that Emad Botros-Farag had been "a loving father" who did everything possible to ensure his son received appropriate mental health treatment. She stated: "The decision to reduce [his medication] led to a rapid decline in his mental health which resulted in these dreadful events."
An indefinite hospital order was imposed on Botros along with a Section 41 restriction to ensure public safety, meaning any discharge, leave, or transfer requires Ministry of Justice approval. Both Maria Marvin and the 11-year-old boy have since recovered from their injuries.
Colleagues of the victim paid tribute to the much-loved family man. Fellow Deliveroo driver Ollie Johnston said: "Emad loved his family and was absolutely dedicated to his kids. He was a really lovely guy who would do anything for anyone." Another colleague, Dirceu Antunes, added: "He was just such a nice guy with a good sense of humour and he was a loving father."
