St Merryn murder trial: Husband 'killed wife with dementia'

  • Published
Exeter Crown Court
Image caption,
Douglas Addison is being tried in his absence at Exeter Crown Court

An 88-year-old man killed his wife because he could not cope with her advanced dementia, a court has heard.

Douglas Addison now has severe dementia himself and is unable to attend the murder trial at Exeter Crown Court or enter a plea.

He had been married to Mary Addison, 88, for decades and nursed her at their bungalow in St Merryn, Cornwall.

She was hit around the head with a blunt object, possibly a walking stick, and smothered in February.

The court heard Mr Addison, of Trehemborne Road, turned down attempts by his GP and social workers to help him look after his wife.

His doctor, Dr Stephen Derry went to the couple's house on 22 February and looked through a bedroom window to see Mr Addison standing over his wife's body, the court was told.

Miss Anna Vigars, QC, prosecuting, said Mrs Addison was unable to move around without help and the final straw may have been her soiling the bed that morning.

She said: "Tragically, events overwhelmed Addison with appalling consequences for his wife. He found it increasingly difficult to care for her.

"He was also beginning to suffer dementia. There is no doubt he wanted to care for her. They had been in a relationship for decades but he was unable to provide the care she needed.

"Things went very badly wrong, possibly because she soiled the bed; possibly because it built up and he was worried about the social workers and carers becoming involved."

The trial continues.

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