A WOMAN whose son was stabbed to death by his father has spoken of the devastating impact it has had on her.
Stephen Hall is today beginning a life sentence for murder after stabbing his son twice in the chest with a potato knife.
Hall claimed he "flipped" after his son Keith McGlone, 26, teased him for being old.
Keith's mother Judith McCarten, 48, left Hull Crown Court in tears as Hall was jailed for a minimum term of 13 years.
Hall pleaded guilty to murder after confessing to the killing immediately to a 999 operator.
Judith – Hall's ex-wife – and her two daughters Katie, 25, and Stefanie Johnson, 24, all wore T-shirts with Keith's picture on at yesterday's hearing.
"We wanted to send the message that we were there for Keith, not for Stephen Hall," said Judith.
"Since the death of my son, my life has changed completely. I still cannot accept the fact he has died.
"To lose my son at such a young age is unbearable, but to also have to accept that the person responsible is his father makes it even worse.
"I asked Stephen if Keith could stay with him for a short time. I thought he would look after him, like any father would their child. I did not expect the horrific events that have happened. It is like a nightmare.
"My last words to Keith over the phone were 'I love you' and he replied 'I love you, see you tomorrow' but I never got to see him again."
Hall stabbed father-of-two Keith to death in the home they were sharing in Catherine Grove, west Hull, on January 21. Keith had only been staying with him for a week.
The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, told Hall: "Keith had his problems and he was not perfect, but he was loved and treasured and did not deserve to die.
"Nothing he did that night could begin to justify you using a knife. After the first blow, Keith asked you to stop and you chose to deal a second strike. Certainly, the second one caused the fatal injuries."
Judith left the court to collect her son's ashes.
She said: "I left Hull after the murder. The city has been my home for more than 30 years but everything reminds me of Keith and what's happened. I will never get closure.
"I will be collecting his ashes and taking them home with me until I decide to something special with them.
"Stephen Hall thinks he has got it bad but I'm the one who gave Keith life and watched him grow up.
"If I ever needed him he would be there for us. He would walked across the entire city just to bring me a pint of milk.
"He would drop everything to help me.
"I have never had to be as strong in my life, I just keep taking each day as it comes. I know Keith would want us to get on with our lives."
Katie said: "He was my big brother and he always looked after us. He teased us but when it came to it he was there for us. He loved his children to bits.
"I will always remember his cheekiness and all of the big cuddles he would give us. He would just lift us up and give us the best cuddles. We miss him."
