William Haxworth, 88, is charged with murdering his spouse Delia, 85, however has now been deemed unfit to face trial, a jury at Bristol Crown Court docket was advised on Monday
An 87-year-old man killed his spouse of greater than 60 years earlier than leaving a heartbreaking word saying “all of it grew to become an excessive amount of” and asking for forgiveness, prosecutors have advised a court docket.
William Haxworth, now 88, is charged with murdering his spouse, Delia, however has been deemed unfit to face trial, a jury at Bristol Crown Court docket was advised on Monday. Jurors – who have been advised they solely have to find out whether or not Haxworth “did the acts charged in opposition to him” – heard how the defendant was noticed by members of the general public threatening to leap from scaffolding within the centre of Tub on June 18, 2024.
Andrew Langdon KC, prosecuting, stated Haxworth advised these making an attempt to assist him and firefighters that he had murdered his spouse. Police went to the defendant’s residence in Higher Lansdown Mews, within the metropolis, the place they discovered Mrs Haxworth , 85, “lifeless” on a mattress, Mr Langdon stated.
The prosecutor advised the jury {that a} word was discovered, apparently written by the defendant. In line with Mr Langdon, the word stated: “All of it grew to become an excessive amount of. Please forgive me and great Del. All of it appeared missing in level. You have all been so great too. So many form neighbours. Forgive. Forgive. Will”
The prosecutor stated a autopsy examination later revealed that Mrs Haxworth had been smothered. Mr Langdon requested the jury to think about the proof of the pathologist’s findings, the circumstances of how Mrs Haxworth was discovered, the defendant’s word, his intention to take his personal life by leaping off scaffolding, and his confession to homicide to those that got here to his assist.
The prosecutor stated: “Take all these items collectively, the prosecution recommend that gives you with the proof that Mr Haxworth did certainly kill his spouse.” Fireplace service watch supervisor Lee Harding, who was known as to the centre of Tub by members of the general public making an attempt to cease Haxworth from leaping, advised the jury how the defendant advised him about his “spouse of 62 years who I like very a lot”.
He stated the defendant advised him his spouse was “very unwell”, including: “I needed to kill her and now it is my flip.” Residence workplace forensic pathologist Amanda Jeffrey advised the jury that Mrs Haxworth went to hospital after falling and hitting her head about three weeks earlier than she died.
Dr Jeffrey stated she was discharged after therapy and the accidents she obtained should not thought to have contributed to her loss of life. She stated Mrs Haxworth ‘s notes stated she was judged to be 4 on the frailty scale and she or he was “typically fairly impartial”.
The pathologist stated she had a historical past of bowel most cancers however there was “no proof (of) recurrence or unfold”. Earlier, Choose William Hart defined to the jury that their function was completely different to a jury in a traditional trial, as Haxworth was unfit.
He defined that he had made that call after considering medical proof. The decide advised the jurors that they needed to determine “whether or not the defendant did the acts charged in opposition to him” and didn’t have to find out whether or not he was responsible or not responsible.
Choose Hart stated this meant deciding “whether or not or not he unlawfully killed his spouse Delia Haxworth ” however stated: “Whether or not he meant to kill her or do her actually critical hurt doesn’t should be proved.” He defined to the jury that the defendant wouldn’t be current in court docket for the trial, which is predicted to complete on Tuesday.
