Steven Perian KC secures murder conviction in complex matricide prosecution
Steven Perian KC successfully prosecuted Dominic Whitton, who was convicted on 21 May 2026 of the murder of his mother and preventing the lawful burial of her body, following a trial at Wood Green Crown Court.
The murder was committed against the background of coercive and controlling behaviour by Mr Whitton towards his mother. The case brought together witness accounts, relationship evidence, what the mother had said to those who came into contact with her, the defendant’s conduct before and after death, and the concealment of the body.
The case involved complex medical and forensic evidence. The mother’s body was in an advanced state of decomposition, requiring careful analysis across pathology, radiology and bone and joint pathology, also known as osteoarticular pathology.
Expert evidence identified 67 fractures of differing ages, occurring over approximately 10 weeks before death, supporting the Prosecution’s case that the mother had been subjected to repeated non-accidental trauma.
The trial required the presentation of a detailed circumstantial case to the jury, combining medical, forensic, witness and communications evidence with the defendant’s conduct after death.
Steven led Charlotte Hole of 5 King’s Bench Walk and was instructed by Roy Pershad, Senior Crown Prosecutor, CPS Homicide London.
Dominic Whitton will be sentenced on 10 July 2026.
