Welsh Teenager Receives Life Sentence for Premeditated Matricide
Tristan Roberts, an 18-year-old from Prestatyn in north Wales, has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years and six months for the brutal murder of his mother, Angela Shellis. Roberts pleaded guilty to the crime, which involved a hammer attack that was carefully planned and executed with chilling precision.
Meticulous Planning and Disturbing Influences
The court at Mold Crown Court heard that Roberts had expressed deeply misogynistic views and demonstrated a fascination with the horror film American Psycho in the weeks leading up to the killing. He meticulously researched methods of murder and how to evade detection, subsequently purchasing potential weapons including knives, hammers, and an axe.
On Discord, Roberts posted a still from American Psycho showing the blood-spattered protagonist with the message: "i got urges." In another post, he wrote: "its gonna be some american psycho sht haha." Further messages revealed his hatred and distrust of women, with one stating: "i do hate girls … girls/women i also dont trust them" and another ominously predicting: "she is gonna just vanish off the earth … now its time."
A Night of Horror and Deception
The attack began late on the evening of 23 October 2025 at their family home in Prestatyn. Roberts is believed to have kept his mother prisoner in her room for approximately four hours, during which she suffered bruising to the face and strangulation injuries. In the early hours of 24 October, he persuaded her to leave the house under the pretence of taking her for medical help.
The two walked through a local nature reserve, where Roberts retrieved a hammer from a rucksack and struck Shellis, a 45-year-old teaching assistant at a high school, multiple times on the head, killing her. He recorded the attacks both at home and in the nature reserve on a dictaphone. On the day of the murder, he left a voice note stating: "This is Tristan Roberts. Tonight, I’m going to be Alex and I’m going to murder my mother with a sledgehammer." The reason for the alter ego "Alex" remains unclear.
Aftermath and Investigation
After the killing, Roberts recorded himself saying: "Oh God that was terrifying … That felt so crazy." On Discord, he posted: "I’ve just had the craziest day." Police were called to the nature reserve on the morning of 24 October when Shellis's body was discovered in undergrowth. A 100-metre blood trail led to the scene, where gloves, a balaclava, and the victim's crutch—which she needed for a knee injury—were found.
Initially, detectives considered the possibility of a stranger attack, but doorbell footage revealed the mother and son leaving their home at 3.19am. The footage also showed Roberts returning to the house after the murder and leaving again; police believe he intended to return with bleach to clean the scene. Roberts had turned 18 just ten days before the attack, which allowed him to legally purchase some of the tools used as weapons.
Court Proceedings and Family Impact
Upon his arrest, Roberts appeared calm and asked: "Is the body you found my mother?" A mental health nurse deemed him fit for interview, and he was questioned on nine occasions over four days, responding with "no comment" to all inquiries.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told Roberts during sentencing: "You appear to have revelled in the control you exerted over your own mother. It was on any view a truly awful way for someone to die. It was made all the more dreadful by the fact her attacker was her own son, someone who it is clear she both cared for and, indeed, worried about in the weeks leading up to her death."
In a victim impact statement, Shellis's elder son, Ethan Roberts, said: "All my mum ever did was love Tristan." Her sister, Sarah Gunther, added: "She was a fantastic and fiercely supportive mum, the kind who never gave up, no matter how hard life became. She fought tirelessly for them, and her love for them was unbreakable."
Prosecution and Sentencing Remarks
After the sentencing, Andrew Slight of the Crown Prosecution Service commented: "The level of planning Tristan Roberts did ahead of committing this shocking crime was elaborate and calculated. His mother’s final moments must have been terrifying, yet he showed no concern or remorse for his actions." The case highlights the devastating consequences of premeditated violence within families and the influence of disturbing cultural references on vulnerable individuals.
