Kenneth Randell Jennings: WA man jailed over threats to kill and violent assault of 74-year-old mum

A Leda man has pleaded guilty to a violent assault of his 74-year-old mother after telling police he “really wanted to kill her”. Kenneth Randell Jennings, 45, appeared via video link before Rockingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with one count breach of a family violence restraining order and one count threat to kill and assault. Prosecutor Sergeant Naomi Foster told the court Jennings was at his home address in Leda at 4pm on August 1 when he suddenly became distressed. Jennings was in the backyard before he entered the house and began screaming at his 74-year-old mother, who sought refuge in her bedroom. Jennings followed the victim to her bedroom and pushed her backwards on to the bed before the pair began to struggle. Jennings then got on top of the victim and bent her right arm towards her back. The victim told police she “thought her arm was going to break”. Jennings then repeatedly screamed at the victim, saying “I am going to kill you”. He then contacted emergency services and made admissions to the assault in a four-minute long phone call, during which he told operators: “I just roughed my mum up, I am going to kill her ... I just pinned her down, I really wanted to kill her”. Jennings was later arrested and the victim was taken to Rockingham Hospital, where she was treated for several injuries including bruises to her right arm, tenderness to the sternum and tears to the left knee. Duty counsel Kim Farmer said Jennings had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had battled with substance abuse, including meth and cannabis use. “He is remorseful for his actions ... and this has been a time of self-reflection,” she said. Jennings was sentenced to one year imprisonment. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)