Mother fights for life after intruder attacks

London: A schoolboy who killed a maniac attacking his mother was at her bedside last night as doctors fought to save her life.

James Killen, 18, was getting ready for school in his bedroom when neighbour Jonathan London burst into the house brandishing a kitchen knife.

The 46-year-old loner stabbed James' mother Sandra Crawford several times before James leapt to her defence.

In the struggle for the knife, London was stabbed and later died at the scene at 8.40am on Friday.

Mrs Crawford, a 53-year-old air stewardess, was flown to hospital for emergency heart surgery.

She suffered multiple upper body wounds in the brutal attack and lost a significant amount of blood.

Last night police said she was in a critical condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with her family at her side.

Police at first arrested James on suspicion of murder after the attack at the family's home in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

He was released hours later when it became clear he had been defending his mother. Classmates said James, a pupil at Sandringham School in St Albans, was kind and gentle.