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| Frederick Gilliard jailed for killing wife with garden gnome | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 76-year-old man who bludgeoned his wife with a garden statue has been jailed for four years. | A 76-year-old man who bludgeoned his wife with a garden statue has been jailed for four years. |
| Frederick Gilliard hit wife Josephine, 74, with a gnome in the shape of an Easter Island head and stabbed her at their home in Blackpool on 5 February. | |
| He had previously admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Preston Crown Court. | He had previously admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Preston Crown Court. |
| Gilliard had told police he "just lost it" after having a blazing row with his wife of over 50 years. | |
| 'Depressive episode' | |
| He then dialled 999 and when police arrived he told them: "This is going to kill my kids. We have been married 54 years. I loved that woman." | |
| He was suffering from a "depressive episode" at the time of the attack, the court heard. | |
| Mrs Gilliard, who was attacked in their bedroom on Links Road, suffered "catastrophic" head injuries and ten stab wounds of "considerable force" to her neck, chest and stomach from an eight-inch carving knife. | |
| A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds and a blow to the head. | A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds and a blow to the head. |
| The couple were a decent, hard working couple who raised four children and had three grandchildren, the jury was told. | |
| Gilliard had also served in the RAF for 27 years including seeing active service during the conflict in Aden. | |
| Members of his family wept in the public gallery as he was jailed. | |
| Gilliard was originally charged with murder but at an earlier hearing pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to his depression. | |
| Passing sentence Judge Anthony Russell QC, Recorder of Preston, told the defendant: "This is a terrible tragedy which has affected all of your family and you, and must have inflicted considerable emotional damage which can never be repaired." |