Brighton Man Given Indefinite Hospital Order After Fatal Hartfield Avenue Attack

A young man from Brighton has been given an indefinite hospital order after admitting killing his father and seriously injuring two others in a violent attack at a family home in the city.

Fabio Botros was 19 when he was charged with the murder of his 57-year-old father, Emad Samir Botros Farag, along with the attempted murder of a woman and an 11-year-old boy in April 2025.

Appearing at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, Botros pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm.

Now aged 20, he was made subject to an indefinite hospital order.

Fatal Attack At Brighton Home

The court heard that the incident took place at a property in Hartfield Avenue, Brighton, as Botros waited for an airport taxi ahead of a planned family trip to Egypt.

Prosecutor Ryan Ritcher told the court that an argument broke out between Botros and his father over baggage allowance.

Shortly afterwards, screams were heard coming from the kitchen.

Jurors were told Botros was seen holding his father by the neck with one hand and a bloodied hammer in the other.

Mr Farag had suffered fatal head injuries.

The court heard that Botros then retrieved a large kitchen knife from a drawer and stabbed a woman in the face.

The 11-year-old boy was also struck on the head with the hammer during the attack.

Emergency services attended the address, but Mr Farag was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mental Health History Examined In Court

The hearing was told that Botros had a significant history of mental illness and had previously received inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals on at least two occasions in Sussex.

In January 2024, a social worker described him as appearing “vacant” and asking for help to end his life.

He was later detained at a psychiatric hospital in Eastbourne and prescribed anti-psychotic medication.

By May 2024, his family reported a marked improvement while he remained on the medication.

However, in autumn 2024, his treatment was changed and anti-psychotic medication was substantially reduced after clinicians considered whether his difficulties were linked to autism and depression.

Sentencing judge Her Honour Judge Christine Laing KC described it as a “cruel aspect” of the case that the change in medication ultimately preceded the fatal attack.

In the weeks leading up to the incident, his family said he had withdrawn from contact, stopped attending college, and appeared to be responding to hallucinations.

Days before the attack, his father requested an urgent mental health assessment.

He was assessed on 18 and 20 March, but no further action was taken.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Michael Kavuma later confirmed a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Sussex Police Response

Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cullimore described the incident as “shocking and tragic” and extended sympathies to those affected across the Brighton community.

The case has raised wider questions in Sussex about the management of severe mental illness and the risks associated with changes to psychiatric medication.