Husband who smothered wife freed

A husband who was jailed after killing his terminally ill wife in “a final act of love” was freed yesterday after appeal judges quashed his sentence.

Ian Gordon, 67, was imprisoned for 40 months in October last year after admitting smothering his wife Patricia, 63, with a pillow at their home in Troon, Ayrshire.

But Lord Brodie, sitting with Lord Turnbull, overturned the decision and admonished him for the culpable homicide of his wife.

Gordon’s defence counsel, the Dean of Faculty Gordon Jackson QC, told the Criminal Appeal Court in Edinburgh: “In the particular circumstances of this case there was neither public nor private interest in the sentence of imprisonment.”

Lord Brodie said: “The taking of human life is always a matter of the utmost seriousness. However, having read all the material which was provided and having listened to what was said by the Dean of Faculty we agree this is indeed an exceptional case.”

The judge said it was accepted by the authorities and Gordon’s family that his actions in hastening the death of his wife were motivated “solely by love” for her.

Lord Brodie said Gordon was a person of apparent excellent character who worked all his life and was devoted to his wife of 43 years.

The appeal judge said they would give full reasons in writing for their decision later.