A pensioner has admitted killing her 81-year-old husband by smothering him after a disagreement over finances.
Janet Dunn, 73, "found herself holding a pillow over the face" of her partner of 53 years, Anthony Dunn, who died as a result of her actions. She then fled their martial home, leaving their adult daughter to discover his body and call police.
The following day Dunn was arrested and was initially charged with murder. Now Dunn, of Beech Court, Ponteland, Northumberland, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Newcastle Crown Court and prosecutors accepted the plea and dropped the murder charge.
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Detective Chief Inspector Matt Steel, one of the detectives working on the case, said: “This has been an incredibly awful case which I’m sure will have shocked the local community, and has resulted in the death of Mr Dunn. Our thoughts remain with his family as they continue to come to terms with this tragic incident. This guilty plea will spare them a trial and the added stress that can bring.
“I would like to thank the hard work of all the officers involved. It has been an incredibly difficult investigation but their commitment to finding justice has resulted in a detailed evidential file and a guilty plea. Hopefully the family can now look to move forward with their grief and find some closure with this result.”
Dunn was remanded into custody and is due to be sentenced later this week when full details of what happened will be revealed. Judge Paul Sloan QC told her: "I'm adjourning your case until Thursday of this week. You will be produced at court on Thursday for the sentencing hearing. I'm hoping all the relevant material I must consider before passing sentence will be available for the hearing.
"You must understand, I'm not giving any indication of the sentence that will be imposed. That will depend on the contents of the reports that are going to be prepared between now and Thursday. You will be remanded in custody pending the hearing on Thursday."
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