NEIGHBOURS of a woman killed by her son in Pocklington spoke of the tragedy that still scars their community – six years after it happened.

It comes after a report was released about the failings of a health trust that was treating mentally ill Michael Torrie and the circumstances that led him to cut the throat of his elderly mother Ivy.

Torrie had been suffering from mental health problems before killing the 82-year-old in 2003, at their home in The Oval, Pocklington.

Neighbours have described a "quiet man" who was "devoted to his mother".

One person, who has lived on The Oval for more than 30 years, said: "No one had a bad word to say about Michael.

"He was a very quiet man and he was devoted to his mother. He took her everywhere. Michael always said hello to us.

"For him to do something like that was so out of character.

"We couldn't believe it."

Torrie was on anti-psychotic medication for a 20-year history of mental illness.

As reported in the Mail last week, the independent report – carried out by Caring Solutions Limited on behalf of the area's strategic health authority, NHS Yorkshire and the Humber – states Torrie's medication was reduced after a series of outpatient appointments.

The report says: "The root cause of this homicide was the rapid reduction of medication and the way this was managed in the absence of a risk-assessment."

A separate investigation has also been carried out by Caring Solutions Limited into the care and treatment of a man who killed 31-year-old Tina Stevenson in west Hull.

Benjamin Holiday – a psychiatric patient – pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Miss Stevenson was pregnant with twins when Holiday stabbed her to death in 2005.

The report says: "The root cause contributing to the patient's continuing severe mental disorder was that of 'under-treatment'."

The independent investigation report into the care and treatment of Holiday was due to be presented to the board of NHS Yorkshire and the Humber today.