A husband who killed his wife in an 'act of love' as she battled terminal cancer has called for a change in the law to allow euthanasia to be legalised. Graham Mansfield, 73, walked free from court after being convicted of the manslaughter of his 71-year-old wife Dyanne.
He slit her throat then tried to kill himself after the married couple of more than 40 years agreed a suicide pact. Mrs Mansfield had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and had weeks to live in March last year.
The couple agreed that they would carry out the pact in the garden of their home in Canterbury Road, Hale. Mansfield killed his wife but his attempts on his own life proved unsuccessful.
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He was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter following a trial. A judge sentenced him to a two year suspended prison sentence after saying he was 'entirely satisfied' that Mansfield had acted out of 'love' and 'compassion' towards his spouse.
Speaking after leaving Manchester Crown Court, where he faced a four day trial, Mansfield said: "I'd just like to say, the law needs to change. Nobody should have to go through what we went through.
"She shouldn't have had to have died in such barbaric circumstances. As far as I'm concerned, as soon as we can get some form of euthanasia in this country, the sooner that happens the better this country will be."
Euthanasia, also known as a mercy killing, is illegal in the UK. Asked how it felt to have a criminal conviction, Mansfield added: "Dyanne would be fuming now, that I've got a conviction for doing something that she asked us to do. I couldn't live without her.
"She would be fuming. But at the end of the day, as far as I can see, I've walked out of this building thinking a few hours ago I was going into a cell and a prison van.
"I don't want anybody else to go through this. It's just a strain, I'm surprised I'm still here at times.
"I've often said to my friends, at some point this will catch up with us. I just have to get through it with the help of my friends and family, they've been great."
Mansfield, a retired Manchester Airport baggage handler, said he would continue grieving for his wife. "I've just got to take it one day at a time," he said.
"It always seems harsh in a court, but the reality is I love my wife. She's not here, and I just have to get through as much of my life as I can without her.
"I'm just thankful for the legal team, Rachel Fletcher, and Richard Orme, they've been fantastic. I'd like to say a special thanks to the police, they've been so kind.
"They treated me as a human being, they went out of their way to help me. It's the law that's wrong, not the police."
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