Man, 89, stabbed wife, 80, to death, court told
A MAN of 89 man allegedly repeatedly stabbed his wife of 59 years to death ‘as the last act of a failing marriage,’ a court heard.
After Arthur Heywood is said to have attacked his 80-year-old wife Barbara, he told paramedics: “I’ve shoved a knife in her because she’s been a bad woman. I just want you to take her away.”
Jurors heard that there were ‘significant tensions’ between the pair by the time of Mrs Heywood’s death, at their home on Ramsay Avenue in Farnworth, Bolton, on March 27.
Both suffered from failing health, and Mr Heywood was said to be showing signs of a ‘progressive dementia’ which has led a judge to conclude he is unfit to stand trial.
The jury will not return a verdict of guilty or not guilty in the normal way, they will instead have to determine ‘whether Arthur Heywood was the person who actually physically stabbed Barbara Heywood to death.’
Manchester Crown Court heard that the pair, who have three children, married in March 1960.
Their 59th wedding anniversary fell the day before Mrs Heywood died.
Opening the case to the jury, prosecutor Rob Hall told jurors: “It is the
Crown’s case that Arthur Heywood stabbed Barbara Heywood to death as the last act of their failing marriage.”
Mrs Heywood was reliant on painkillers, used a wheelchair and depended on Mr Heywood for her care.
Paramedics found Mrs Heywood face down on the floor.
Mr Heywood was arrested on suspicion of murder.
He was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, as he was not fit to be interviewed. He has never been formally questioned by police about the incident.
The court has heard that there is no dispute that Mr Heywood suffers from a ‘progressive dementia.’ In November, Judge Alan Conrad QC ruled that he was unfit to stand trial. Instead a ‘trial of the facts’ is taking place.
Mr Heywood was not required to be in the dock as the case was opened, instead sitting behind his barrister.
Mr Hall told jurors: “Your task is not to return a verdict of guilty or not guilty upon that one count of murder. The issue for you in this case is a more straightforward one.
“You are, somewhat unusually, asked to determine whether Arthur Heywood was simply the person who actually, physically stabbed Barbara Heywood to death.”
Proceeding.