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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Cancer drugs man strangled wife | Cancer drugs man strangled wife |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A "loving and caring" husband strangled his wife after he suffered mood swings from medication treating his prostate cancer, Cardiff Crown Court has heard. | A "loving and caring" husband strangled his wife after he suffered mood swings from medication treating his prostate cancer, Cardiff Crown Court has heard. |
| Retired steelworker Michael Farley, 72, attacked Shirley, his wife of 50 years, after an argument over holiday plans. | |
| Police found her dead at Caldicot, Monmoutshire, after Farley dialled 999. | Police found her dead at Caldicot, Monmoutshire, after Farley dialled 999. |
| Farley admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to a hospital order at a psychiatric clinic. | Farley admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to a hospital order at a psychiatric clinic. |
| Judge Nigel Davies told Farley he hoped he would be returned to his family soon. | Judge Nigel Davies told Farley he hoped he would be returned to his family soon. |
| "Most crimes of homicide usually have to be described as wicked. | "Most crimes of homicide usually have to be described as wicked. |
| "Anyone who has studied this case could not use that word - what happened here was a tragedy for you and your family. | "Anyone who has studied this case could not use that word - what happened here was a tragedy for you and your family. |
| It has been tragic and heartbreaking Claire Belcher, daughter | |
| "It is quite clear that the cause of this was a depressive illness as a result of your treatment for cancer." | "It is quite clear that the cause of this was a depressive illness as a result of your treatment for cancer." |
| Prosecutor Peter Heyward told the court: "Farley told police he had just killed his wife by strangling her. | Prosecutor Peter Heyward told the court: "Farley told police he had just killed his wife by strangling her. |
| "He said he had done it because of something she said." | |
| Mrs Farley had been found dead in their living room, said Mr Heyward. | Mrs Farley had been found dead in their living room, said Mr Heyward. |
| "At the time Farley was being treated for prostate cancer with Zoladex. | "At the time Farley was being treated for prostate cancer with Zoladex. |
| "There are side-effects which involve mood changes - it had clearly had an effect," he said. | "There are side-effects which involve mood changes - it had clearly had an effect," he said. |
| Farley was being treated for prostate cancer with Zoladex | Farley was being treated for prostate cancer with Zoladex |
| The Farleys who were described as a "perfect couple" by friends and family, the court heard, had started their day normally, but then argued about holiday plans and his illness. | The Farleys who were described as a "perfect couple" by friends and family, the court heard, had started their day normally, but then argued about holiday plans and his illness. |
| Farley told police the next thing he remembered was being face-to-face with his wife after he had strangled her. | |
| The father-of-three called police and then tried to kill himself with a kitchen knife, the court heard. | The father-of-three called police and then tried to kill himself with a kitchen knife, the court heard. |
| Police later found him in the bath at the couple's home with two chest wounds. | |
| The pensioner later told paramedics: "I tried to stab myself in the heart. Obviously I don't have a heart - I've just murdered my wife." | The pensioner later told paramedics: "I tried to stab myself in the heart. Obviously I don't have a heart - I've just murdered my wife." |
| His daughter Claire Belcher told the court the tragedy in June had been "heartbreaking" for the family. | |
| 'Unselfish life' | 'Unselfish life' |
| She said: "We were blessed with the most wonderful, caring, loving, giving and understanding parents. | She said: "We were blessed with the most wonderful, caring, loving, giving and understanding parents. |
| "All our precious memories come from these two people who had such a complete and unselfish life together," she said. | "All our precious memories come from these two people who had such a complete and unselfish life together," she said. |
| "We know if dad had not become ill we would still be making those memories. | "We know if dad had not become ill we would still be making those memories. |
| "It has been tragic and heartbreaking". | |
| Outside court Farley's family issued a statement saying they would help him rebuild his life and "treasure the time we have left with him". | Outside court Farley's family issued a statement saying they would help him rebuild his life and "treasure the time we have left with him". |
| "We will carry our mother with us every minute of every day and long for her always. | "We will carry our mother with us every minute of every day and long for her always. |
| "We have always said that we start and end as a family and we still believe this to be true." | "We have always said that we start and end as a family and we still believe this to be true." |