Mum stabs daughter in back with 12-inch knife - then turns blade on herself

A mum fatally turned a 12-inch blade on herselfafter using it to stab her daughter in the back while she was cooking a family meal.

Aurica-Floarea Lazar had told a psychiatric nurse of her fear of being sectioned just hours before the tragedy unfolded in Ashford, Kent. Her daughter, Roxana Hartagan, suffered a punctured lung and desperately fended off further frenzied attacks before running outside and screaming: "She stabbed me."

Ms Lazar was discovered by police on the kitchen floor in her daughter's home, still holding the knife. The 55-year-old hadsustained stab woundsto her neck and chest and was later confirmed dead at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

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The shocking details emerged as an inquest was held into Ms Lazar's death at Oakwood House in Maidstone on Friday. It was heard how Ms Lazar had attacked her daughter while she cooked a meal for her family, including her young son, on Monday, June 2.

In her evidence, Mrs Hartagan told police how she had been facing towards the oven in the kitchen when she felt pressure on her back. She turned to find her mum holding a large knife, and a scuffle ensued, where she bit Ms Lazar's hand while fending off multiple attacks.

Mrs Hartagan then ran outside, screaming "she stabbed me" to get the attention of neighbours, one of whom went back inside the property to find Ms Lazar on the floor with multiple wounds. Mrs Hartagan, a mum-of-one, suffered a punctured lung and was taken to King's College Hospital in London, but has since made a full recovery.

No reason could be provided for why Ms Lazar launched the attack - though, as she received treatment, she accused her daughter of turning on her. In his report, police officer DS Clark told the coroner: "The deceased stabbed her own adult daughter before turning the knife upon herself fatally.

"The account from Roxana has been consistent, and there is no reason to disbelieve her. The account of the therapist at the memory clinic paints a picture of Roxana being nothing but supportive. This seems to be the general feel of their relationship. Additionally, Roxana has sustained a stab wound to her back; this cannot have been self-inflicted. We also know that Ms Lazar's mental health was an issue and that it is likely to have been a trigger to the otherwise out-of-character violence."

It was heard how Ms Lazar "was once a loving and charismatic woman" but "it was difficult to reconcile that with the person she became in her final years". She suffered from paranoia, anxiety and schizophrenia, and had twice been sectioned while living in Denmark.

Ms Lazar had moved to the UK in July 2024 to be with her daughter, as her then-partner was unable to care for her. Just hours before tragedy struck, the pair had attended an NHS Memory Assessment Service appointment at St Martin's Hospital in Canterbury, as it was feared Ms Lazar was suffering from the early stages of dementia.

It was here she said she had a "deep sense of helplessness" amid fears she could be sectioned. The community psychiatric nurse they met with reported there were "no signs of risk or distress during the appointment" and she was later shocked to learn that Ms Lazar had died.

She emphasised that there was "no indication during the assessment that such an event was imminent". Police also reiterated that there are no active criminal proceedings, with Ms Lazar considered to be the instigator of the attack.

The next of kin declined to attend the inquest, with Coroner Katrina Hepburn holding it in their absence. Mrs Hepburn returned a conclusion of suicide, noting it was the most likely scenario on the balance of probabilities.

"I do bear in mind that the balance of her mind may have been significantly affected through her mental health illness, but I do find that she would have known the likely consequences of stabbing herself in the location where she did," said the coroner. "I'm satisfied that when she did this act, she did have the requisite intention to die. And thirdly, I'm satisfied that all other explanations have been ruled out."

The tragedy occurred just a day after Romanian-born Ms Lazar and her daughter shared a day out in Canterbury, with pictures on social media showing them enjoying an ice cream in the city. Writing on Facebook after her mum's death, Mrs Hartagan paid tribute, saying: "My dear mother. You were beautiful, gentle and charismatic. We, your family, want to remember you this way - happy and healthy! May God keep you under His cover."