Dementia victim killed wife - but didn't know what he had done

A pensioner with dementia who was ­unaware he had killed his wife was yesterday found to have carried out the ‘murderous attack’.

Judge Lord Arthurson said he was satisfied ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that John Pryde, 77, had bludgeoned his wife Kate, 74, to death.

Pryde, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, carried out the ‘sustained and ­violent attack’ on his wife of 50 years at their home in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, in March last year.

He was arrested after he alerted a neighbour to a blood-soaked body in his kitchen, but did not seem to know it was his wife, who had injuries consistent with trying to fight off the attack.

Lord Arthurson told the High Court in Dundee yesterday: ‘I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the acts libelled, and further, that on the balance of probabilities there are grounds for his acquittal.

‘This is a truly tragic case. The couple married in 1973. At the date of Mrs Pryde’s death, plans were being made to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

‘The deceased was his sole carer. Both continued to live together and I am satisfied they were alone together in the house at the time of the deceased’s death. There was no third party involved.

‘The accused assaulted the deceased at the house. It is plain on any view that this was a murderous attack.’

The judge said the number, nature and extent of the injuries supported the Crown’s case that the blows were violent and sustained.

He added: ‘It is very clear that what I have held he did was wholly out of character.’

Pryde was formally acquitted as a result of his mental disorder and an interim compulsion order was made to keep him in the State Hospital at Carstairs.

A hearing will take place at Glasgow High Court in June to determine whether long-term compulsion or guardianship will be imposed.

The examination of facts – which was heard by a single judge and without a jury – heard that Pryde’s mixed vascular/Alzheimer’s dementia was rapidly worsening before the fatal attack.

He was described during the hearing as a ‘gentle soul’ but his condition meant he became easily confused and struggled to find words.

The tragedy came to light when Pryde went to his neighbour’s home and told her there was ‘a body in his house’ and he wanted help to phone the emergency services. When paramedics arrived, Pryde told them: ‘I might be the cause of all this bother. I have lashed out and hit people.’

Detective Sergeant Ross Duthie interviewed Pryde and said: ‘I formed the ­opinion he was absolutely unaware of everything that was going on.’

Advocate Depute Mark Mohammed told the court yesterday: ‘The Crown accepts that what the accused did was totally out of character.

‘His actions that night were entirely driven by his significant cognitive impairment and that is the only reason this has happened.’