Helen Harrison died following the incident in the family home three years ago
Rick Parker will be sentenced next month at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A man who stabbed and killed his mum in their family home has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Rick Parker, 42, of Aspen Close, Market Weighton, killed Helen Harrison in March 2023.
Appearing at Hull Crown Court, he also admitted to actual bodily harm in connection with an assault on his stepfather in February 2023. He will be sentenced next month.
In February 2024, nearly a year on from the incident, a fact-finding trial was held for a jury to establish whether Parker committed the act which had caused the death of his mum and the injuries to his stepfather. The jury returned the verdict Parker had caused the death of his mother on Sunday, 5 March and had caused injuries to his stepfather on Sunday, 19 February.
Following the trial, the judge imposed a restricted hospital order on Parker where he has since remained in a secure hospital facility and can only be discharged following a thorough assessment completed by a panel made up of legal and medical professionals. Parker has continued to be assessed by professionals throughout his hospital order and based on medical evidence, in July 2025 it was determined by the court that Parker was fit to stand trial as part of criminal proceedings.
Parker was originally charged with murder, but following medical assessments, it was deemed he had diminished responsibility at the time of the offence, and the offence of manslaughter was accepted.
He entered his pleas via video link during a hearing at Hull Crown Court last week and was remanded into a secure hospital to await sentencing at Hull Crown Court on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
What happened
On Sunday, 5 March 2023, at 4.47pm, Parker made a 999 call to ambulance services where he told the call handler “there is a woman who has been badly injured” before ending the call. Emergency services were deployed and upon entering the property, officers and paramedics discovered Helen in the hallway with a stab wound to her chest.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, Helen was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. Parker was located in the rear garden of the address and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death as a stab wound to the chest combined with mechanical asphyxia. Prior to this incident, on Sunday, 19 February 2023, Parker had also subjected his stepfather to an unprovoked attack at their family home where he headbutted and punched him, causing injuries to face and head.
He was charged with this offence, which has run concurrently with the murder charge and formed one investigation. Following the incident, Parker was assessed by a number of psychiatrists who concluded that he was mentally unwell, making him unfit to enter a plea in connection with the charges of murder and actual bodily harm as a part of a criminal trial.
This triggered the original 2024 fact-finding trial.
‘Tragic and senseless killing’
Following the latest hearing, Humberside Police senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Nicola Burnett leading the investigation said: “This was a tragic and senseless killing that has left a family utterly heartbroken by the loss of their loved one in truly horrific circumstances.
“They have been through a harrowing tribulation, and my thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time. This has been a challenging and complex investigation, and I’d like to thank the investigation team for their unwavering commitment and dedication which has resulted in this outcome.”
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