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| Pensioner killed 'beloved' wife | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An 80-year-old man who killed his seriously ill wife has been detained under the Mental Health Act. | An 80-year-old man who killed his seriously ill wife has been detained under the Mental Health Act. |
| Frank Rhoden admitted the manslaughter of his "beloved" wife Marian, 83, strangling, days before their golden wedding anniversary in March this year. | Frank Rhoden admitted the manslaughter of his "beloved" wife Marian, 83, strangling, days before their golden wedding anniversary in March this year. |
| His barrister at Mold Crown Court called it a "deeply tragic case". | His barrister at Mold Crown Court called it a "deeply tragic case". |
| Retired headmistress Mrs Rhoden, of Penrhyn Bay, had dementia and the court was told Rhoden was at his "wit's end". | Retired headmistress Mrs Rhoden, of Penrhyn Bay, had dementia and the court was told Rhoden was at his "wit's end". |
| The court heard that her condition got worse after returning home from holiday at the couple's time-share property in Madeira. | The court heard that her condition got worse after returning home from holiday at the couple's time-share property in Madeira. |
| Robert Trevor-Jones QC, prosecuting, said the couple had discussed but decided against euthanasia. | Robert Trevor-Jones QC, prosecuting, said the couple had discussed but decided against euthanasia. |
| On 24 March, the retired electro engineering lecturer strangled her with a tie while she slept in bed at their bungalow. | On 24 March, the retired electro engineering lecturer strangled her with a tie while she slept in bed at their bungalow. |
| He misses her dreadfully every day - he still talks to her in an attempt to communicate with he Stephen Riorden QC, defending | He misses her dreadfully every day - he still talks to her in an attempt to communicate with he Stephen Riorden QC, defending |
| He had given her alcohol to help her sleep. | |
| Rhoden then sat for some time in his fume-filled car in the garage before driving the BMW into a wall on The Great Orme. | Rhoden then sat for some time in his fume-filled car in the garage before driving the BMW into a wall on The Great Orme. |
| Paramedics found him bleeding from a head wound and mumbling: "What have I done?". | Paramedics found him bleeding from a head wound and mumbling: "What have I done?". |
| The pensioner was rushed to hospital - and while there pretended to speak to his wife on the telephone, or leave her a message, to say that he would be home later. | |
| When discharged in the early hours of the morning, he rang police to say that he had found his wife dead. | |
| Rhoden denied murder but his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution. | Rhoden denied murder but his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution. |
| He was sent to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely by Judge John Rogers QC who made a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, without limit of time. | He was sent to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely by Judge John Rogers QC who made a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, without limit of time. |
| Mrs Rhoden's body was found at the couple's seaside home | |
| Defending barrister Stephen Riorden QC said: "Mr Rhoden killed the only woman that he had ever loved. | Defending barrister Stephen Riorden QC said: "Mr Rhoden killed the only woman that he had ever loved. |
| "They were only a few days short of their 50th wedding anniversary. | "They were only a few days short of their 50th wedding anniversary. |
| "He misses her dreadfully every day. He still talks to her in an attempt to communicate with her." | "He misses her dreadfully every day. He still talks to her in an attempt to communicate with her." |
| A post mortem examination revealed that Mrs Rhoden would have probably died naturally within days. | A post mortem examination revealed that Mrs Rhoden would have probably died naturally within days. |
| Rhoden, who will be held at a medium secure psychiatric unit at Llanfairfechan, was said to have been at his wit's end at the time of the killing. | Rhoden, who will be held at a medium secure psychiatric unit at Llanfairfechan, was said to have been at his wit's end at the time of the killing. |
| Judge John Rogers told Rhoden: "You will remain in hospital for as long as it is necessary. | Judge John Rogers told Rhoden: "You will remain in hospital for as long as it is necessary. |
| "That may be forever, but if a time comes where it is thought you might be discharged either absolutely or conditionally to live with the public, that will be decided by a mental health review tribunal." | "That may be forever, but if a time comes where it is thought you might be discharged either absolutely or conditionally to live with the public, that will be decided by a mental health review tribunal." |
| Mrs Rhoden, a grandmother of three, and her husband were originally from Manchester but retired to north Wales 25 years ago. | Mrs Rhoden, a grandmother of three, and her husband were originally from Manchester but retired to north Wales 25 years ago. |
| After her death, the family paid tribute to a "beloved" wife, mother and grandmother. | After her death, the family paid tribute to a "beloved" wife, mother and grandmother. |
| They said the former headteacher's physical and mental health had been deteriorating rapidly in the two weeks before her death. | They said the former headteacher's physical and mental health had been deteriorating rapidly in the two weeks before her death. |