Husband, 100, Kills Wife 'In Act Of Love'

A 100-year-old man has been spared prison after slitting his wife's throat in what the judge said appeared to be an "act of love".

Bernard Heginbotham, of Preesall, near Blackpool, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife Ida, 87, with whom he had enjoyed 67 years of "joyous" marriage.Retired butcher Heginbotham sobbed in the dock of Preston Crown Court as Mr Justice Leveson spoke of the devoted husband who had cared for his sick wife in the final years of her life.

Mrs Heginbotham was found by care home staff with a single knife wound to the throat after a visit from her husband on April 1 this year.

Prosecutor Hilary Banks said the couple had had 67 years of happy marriage together and raised six children but Mrs Heginbotham had become dependent on her husband after she had been hurt in several falls.

Her condition deteriorated and she needed specialist care and was moved between numerous care homes. Throughout this time Heginbotham had visited her daily.

The court heard he had become very distressed and tearful after a telephone call from his son Neville in which he learnt his wife was to be moved to a respite home some distance away.

Ms Banks said: "He admitted that he went to the home with a weapon and injured his wife which resulted in her death.

"He didn't want his wife to be moved again and didn't think she was going to receive the care he wanted her to have."