AN OAP who suffered from dementia tragically killed his wife with a hammer in a “suicide pact” gone wrong, a court heard.
Roger Worby launched his attack as Margaret Worby lay in bed at their Bedfordshire home, on January 23 this year.
The 84-year-old fatally beat his wife of 56 years before turning a knife on himself.
The retired industrial chemist was rushed to hospital where he later recovered.
Luton Crown Court heard how Worby rang 999 and said: “It’s my worst ever nightmare. We were so much in love, and now it has come to this.”
He told the court he and his wife discussed a suicide pact the evening before “over a cup of tea and a biscuit”.
In the month leading up to the attack, Worby had become convinced he was guilty of fraud through online transaction, the court heard.
He started to express fears the couple would be sent to America and jailed.
Multiple psychiatrists reached the conclusion Worby was suffering from mental health difficulties, including an “acute” psychotic disorder.
One expert believed it was it likely the 84-year-old was “suffering from the early stages of dementia“.
Another suggested he could have a “mild neurocognitive disorder” that would have impacted his “ability to form a rational judgment”.
Worby had previously denied murder, but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Caroline Carberry KC, prosecuting, said Worby told police January 23 was the “worst day of his life”.
Lawrence Selby KC, for Worby, also told the court: “This case is a tragedy.
“Nothing this court can do will ever be greater punishment for Mr Worby than having to live with what he did.”
He said, given the defendant’s age, a prison sentence would be equal to a “death sentence”.
Judge Simon sentenced Worby to serve half of a 21-month sentence in custody before being released on licence.
Worby has been on remand in custody since his arrest in January and will therefore likely be freed soon, lawyers said.
Upon sentencing, the judge told Worby: “By all accounts you were devoted to each other, described by others as ‘joined at the hip’.
“You and Margaret both worked for a living and in retirement lived in Dunstable without financial or other worry.”
The judge concluded there was evidence that Worby had genuinely believed the couple had a suicide pact.
He continued: “[I] am not in a position to make a finding to the criminal standard as to the exact nature of any discussion and/or agreement between yourself and Margaret.
“In the absence of convincing evidence to the contrary, I must pass sentence on the basis that at the very least you genuinely believed that there was an agreement with Margaret.”
A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police added: “An elderly man who killed his wife of more than 50 years has been sentenced to 21 months after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
“Roger Worby, of Kingsbury Avenue, Dunstable, called Bedfordshire Police on the afternoon of January 23 to report that his wife had died in what he claimed to be a suicide pact gone wrong.
“Worby stated that he had struck his wife, 84-year-old Margaret Worby, on the head with a hammer multiple times, with the intention to knock her out. However, the injuries resulted in her bleeding to death.
“He advised officers when they arrived at the couple’s home that he had attempted to take his own life, but had failed, telling officers it was, ‘the worst day of his life’.
“As part of the investigation, Worby was assessed by medical professionals and diagnosed with early-onset dementia. This led to the indictment being amended from murder to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
“At Luton Crown Court today (Mon), Worby was sentenced to 21 months, with 11 of those already served in custody and the remainder on licence.”
Anyone affected by this article can contact the Samaritans free at any time on 116 123
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
