Shropshire pensioner's sentencing over wife's death is delayed
A judge has delayed sentencing a pensioner from Shropshire over the death of his wife.
Beatrice Margaret Bennett, 75, was found dead at the home she shared with husband John in Millfield Drive, Market Drayton, on the morning of May 20.
The retired teacher had suffered an "incise wound to the neck and blunt trauma to the head," her inquest was told later.
Her 75-year-old husband, also a retired teacher, was arrested on the same day and charged with her murder on May 21.
He was initially due to stand trial at the court on November 17.
But since a plea and case management hearing in August the Crown Prosecution Service has accepted his plea of manslaughter with diminished responsibility.
Judge Simon Tonking was due to sentence Bennett on Thursday but in an unexpected turn of events, in front of a packed public gallery, he ordered Bennett be taken to the Hatherton Centre, Stafford, to be treated for severe depressive episodes.
The Hatherton Centre is a purpose-built, 47-bed medium secure service based on the St George's Hospital site in Stafford.
Miss Debbie Gould, prosecuting, said it was an unusual case which had perplexed the crown.
Judge Tonking said: "Everyone thought and anticipated that I would be sentencing today but the ground has shifted in the last two days and now I am faced with two reports from medical practitioners recommending more needs to be done to investigate Mr Bennett's present medical condition. This has taken us by surprise."
Stafford Crown Court heard that this week Mr Bennett was seen in Duffgate Prison by consultant psychologist Helen Whitworth who expressed concern about his medical condition.
She reached a conclusion he is still suffering from severe depression and needed to be treated in hospital.
The court heard that on Wednesday this week a further report by a separate consultant psychologist confirmed Ms Whitworth's assessment.
Therefore Judge Tonking ordered an interim hospital order and for the case to be brought back to Stafford Court on March 5 next year.
He also ordered further reports to update him by February 27.
He said: "I could not possibly in all consciousness have sentenced you (Bennett) today after receiving reports saying you are still suffering from severe depression.
"You will be moved to the Hatherton Centre and treated there."
