Pensioner Kills Frail Wife

A pensioner who ended his fifty-seven year marriage by stabbing his frail wife to death has been sent to a psychiatric hospital after admitting manslaughter.

Frank Crowther, 88, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey (pictured) to killing 83 year-old Winifred on December 9, last year at their home in Lumley Road, Sutton.

Police were contacted by a neighbour who was concerned for the welfare of the couple, who not been seen for a couple of days.



Officers entered the house and found Winifred dead with multiple stab wounds and Frank collapsed and unconscious.



A post mortem confirmed she died from her stab wounds.



Frank Crowther was in a critical condition, suffering from pneumonia and some self inflicted wounds and he had also taken an overdose.

The Crowther’s were described as a loving couple, however, in recent years Winifred had become increasingly ill and Frank struggled to cope.



Detective Chief Inspector Amanda Hargreaves said: “This was an extremely sad incident where an elderly man who was seriously ill himself was overcome by his mental health leading to the tragic death of his wife Winifred.

“My sympathies go to the Crowther family who have endured this terrible incident, and I hope that they can all now move on and grieve their loss privately.”