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Ronald King admits manslaughter of wife Rita | |
(35 minutes later) | |
An 87-year-old man has admitted shooting dead his wife at a care home in Essex. | An 87-year-old man has admitted shooting dead his wife at a care home in Essex. |
Ronald King killed his wife Rita, 81, who had dementia, at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze in December. | |
King had denied murder, but earlier admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. The plea was accepted by the jury. | |
He has been remanded in custody and is due to return to court at the end of the month. | |
Follow the latest on this and other stories on BBC Essex Live | |
During the trial, the court heard how King told care home staff his wife "had suffered enough". | |
The court heard he shot Mrs King through the eye with her father's World War Two Enfield service revolver, using a bullet dating back to 1943. | |
Speaking after the trial, the family of Mrs King said: "The tragedy of what happened has had an impact on the whole family. We are a large but close family. | |
"We would never have imagined what happened to Rita. It has shocked us all and left us deeply saddened. | |
"We know her last months in the De La Mer home were happy and she was well looked after. | |
"She used to love sitting watching the birds, especially when they used the birdbath. We are sure she still watches them now she is at rest." | |
Det Insp Alan Pitcher said: "I would like to pay tribute to Ronald's and Rita's families for the support they have provided to our investigation and the dignity they have shown throughout. | |
"This is a particularly sad and tragic case and my thoughts are very much with them at this time." |