A woman has told a court she is "haunted by my father's cries" after her brother was sentenced to life in prison for his murder.
A Tragic Family Fracture
Christopher Monro, 30, known as Kit, will serve a minimum of 12 years for killing his 73-year-old father, Peter Monro, in Bath earlier this year. The incident occurred at the older man's home on Kelston View on Tuesday 11 February. Emergency services attended around noon, but Peter Monro was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following a police investigation which traced his movements, Christopher Monro was arrested at his home address in Osney Lane, Oxford, by Thames Valley Police the following day. He was charged with murder and pleaded guilty at a hearing in August.
A Sister's Heartbreaking Court Statement
At the sentencing hearing on Tuesday 23 December, Peter's daughter, Lara, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She described the profound difficulty of processing her loss, stating she finds it "almost impossible to grieve my dear Papa."
"In darker moments, I am haunted by my father's cries," Lara confessed. "But then there are also times where I am comforted by his laughter. I try my hardest to focus on these moments as a way of staying connected to him."
A Call for Better Mental Health Support
Lara revealed that her brother had endured a "relentless battle with severely complex mental health issues." While making clear she does not excuse his actions, she expressed a firm belief that he deserved greater support from mental health services.
"I often find myself preoccupied and pained by my brother's suffering; what he must have been going through to commit such an act and what he must be navigating in the aftermath," she said.
Lara articulated a complex mix of condemnation and compassion for her brother. "I loved our Papa with all my heart, and you (Kit) took him away from me. Yet while I will never be able to understand why or how you were able to do what you have done, you will always be my brother, and I will always love and care for you."
She stated she hoped his sentencing would reflect his actions, but also that he would be in a safe, protected environment where he could receive necessary care to heal.
Police Gratitude and a Family's Resilience
Lara thanked loved ones for their support and praised the professionalism and empathy of specialist family liaison officers. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Meade acknowledged the family's ordeal, stating the conclusion of court proceedings does not end their pain.
"The past 10 months have been incredibly difficult for the entire family and they have shown remarkable resilience in such adversity," DCI Meade said. He also thanked members of the public who came forward with information, noting that small details were crucial in securing the conviction.
