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'I'd do the same again': Donna Delbono, who turned in killer teen son to cops, says she has 'no regrets'

Donna Delbono, 42, handed her teenage son, Joshua, over to the authorities after he stabbed Charley Bates, 16, in a pub parking lot in July 2022

BRISTOL, ENGLAND: Donna Delbono, a mother who reported her son to the police for committing a murder, stated that she has no remorse for her decision and would do it again if necessary. Donna, 42, made the difficult decision to hand over her teenage son Joshua to the authorities after finding out that he had stabbed 16-year-old Charley Bates in a pub parking lot in Radstock, Somerset, in July 2022. 

Following a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, the 19-year-old was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 21 years to be served. The court was told that Joshua had returned to his family's residence in Frome, around six hours after the crime, when his mother Donna reported the incident to the authorities. Donna was a key witness in the case and her actions ultimately led to Joshua's conviction.

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'I know I'd do the same again'

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, Donna, a mother of seven, described her actions as "the hardest choice any parent will ever have to make." Donna from Frome, Somerset, said, "I was brought up to know the difference between right and wrong, and to always try to do the right thing in life, no matter how hard it is. Even though it was such a tough choice to make, I know I'd do the same again. I couldn't have lived with myself if I'd chosen instead not to call the police. I feel terrible that Charley Bates lost his life and my sympathies go out to his family."

During the trial, Donna's call to the police was played in court as evidence. The jury heard her say, "My son's killed someone. It was at Radstock earlier. He's just come back and I've found out. He's in my house now but I can't let him go anywhere," she said, adding, "He's here. I've told him I've got to do it." 

'My son will have to live with this for the rest of his life'

She explained that after returning home from a night out with friends, her daughter Jade informed her of Joshua's confession regarding the incident. Donna, faced with a challenging moral dilemma, chose to report the crime to the police, even though it meant turning her own son in. She said, "Jade said he'd stabbed this boy, who he had never met before, then gone off to bed. I ran straight into his bedroom and turned on the light. Josh was asleep and I was shaking him awake, but when he came to he admitted everything. He said he was scared and didn't know what to do. I said there was only one thing he could do – hand himself in to the police. But he said he was too terrified, so I said if he wouldn't call them, I would. He just nodded. So I grabbed my phone and dialled 999. My son will have to live with this for the rest of his life."

Joshua was jailed for life on Tuesday, April 11, with a minimum term of 21 years at Bristol Crown Court.