Schizophrenic man 'not guilty' of murder

A Sydney man charged with the stabbing murder of his 68-year-old mother has been found not guilty, due to mental illness.

Thirty-eight-year-old Peter John Coles was charged with the murder of his mother, Janice Coles, and the malicious wounding of her former partner at Dee Why, on Sydney's northern beaches, in 2006.

During the trial, the court was told Ms Coles had 22 stab wounds and that her son had told police he wanted to kill her because he loved her.

The court also heard Peter Coles had suffered from schizophrenia since he was 18, and at the time of the attack did not have the capacity to understand what he was doing was wrong.

He has been found not guilty of murder and malicious wounding due to his mental illness.

Justice Michael Grove has ruled that Peter Coles be detained in psychiatric care.