Mother who handed son in to police for murder says she would do the same thing again
A mother whose son was jailed for life for murder after she turned him in to police has insisted she has no regrets – and would do the same again.
Joshua Delbono, 19, was jailed last week and told he must serve a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing 16-year-old Charley Bates through the heart.
His mother, who Bristol Crown Court heard called 999 to report him to police, has now spoken out about her decision, saying it was "the hardest choice any parent will ever have to make".
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Donna Delbono 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."
The 42-year-old, from Frome, Somerset, sent her sympathies to the family of Charley Bates, who was stabbed by her son in a pub car park in Radstock, Somerset, last July, after violence escalated between two groups of friends.
During Joshua Delbono's trial, the court was played a recording of his mother's call to police, during which she said: "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."
Read more: Father-of-five celebrates end of 23-year marriage by driving 'Just Divorced' car around town
When asked by the operator if her son knew she was on the phone, she replied: "Yeah, he's here. I've told him I've got to do it."
During the two-week trial, the jury were told Delbono accepted stabbing the victim - but denied murder.
The court heard he had stabbed Bates to death after intervening in a fist fight.
Prosecutors said the victim, who had never met his killer, had a previous issue with one of Delbono's friends, believed to be over money, and they began fighting.
As others got involved in the brawl, Delbono picked up a knife he claimed was left in his car by its previous owner, and stabbed Charley through the heart.
Delbono and his group left the scene after less than five minutes and Charley was pronounced dead a short while later.
In her interview with the Mail on Sunday, Donna Delbono said she had come home after a night out with friends, and her daughter Jade had told her what had happened.
She described how she confronted her son, who admitted everything but said he was scared and did not know what to do, prompting her to tell him to hand himself in and to call the police.
