William Haxworth, 88, is charged with murdering his wife Delia, 85, but has now been deemed unfit to stand trial, a jury at Bristol Crown Court was told on Monday
An 87-year-old man killed his wife of more than 60 years before leaving a heartbreaking note saying “it all became too much” and asking for forgiveness, prosecutors have told a court.
William Haxworth, now 88, is charged with murdering his wife, Delia, but has been deemed unfit to stand trial, a jury at Bristol Crown Court was told on Monday. Jurors – who were told they only have to determine whether Haxworth “did the acts charged against him” – heard how the defendant was spotted by members of the public threatening to jump from scaffolding in the centre of Bath on June 18, 2024.
Andrew Langdon KC, prosecuting, said Haxworth told those trying to help him and firefighters that he had murdered his wife. Police went to the defendant’s home in Upper Lansdown Mews, in the city, where they found Mrs Haxworth , 85, “lifeless” on a bed, Mr Langdon said.
The prosecutor told the jury that a note was found, apparently written by the defendant. According to Mr Langdon, the note said: “It all became too much. Please forgive me and wonderful Del. It all seemed lacking in point. You’ve all been so wonderful too. So many kind neighbours. Forgive. Forgive. Will”
The prosecutor said a post-mortem examination later revealed that Mrs Haxworth had been smothered. Mr Langdon asked the jury to consider the evidence of the pathologist’s findings, the circumstances of how Mrs Haxworth was found, the defendant’s note, his intention to take his own life by jumping off scaffolding, and his confession to murder to those who came to his aid.
The prosecutor said: “Take all these things together, the prosecution suggest that provides you with the evidence that Mr Haxworth did indeed kill his wife.” Fire service watch manager Lee Harding, who was called to the centre of Bath by members of the public trying to stop Haxworth from jumping, told the jury how the defendant told him about his “wife of 62 years who I love very much”.
He said the defendant told him his wife was “very ill”, adding: “I had to kill her and now it’s my turn.” Home office forensic pathologist Amanda Jeffrey told the jury that Mrs Haxworth went to hospital after falling and hitting her head about three weeks before she died.
Dr Jeffrey said she was discharged after treatment and the injuries she received are not thought to have contributed to her death. She said Mrs Haxworth ‘s notes said she was judged to be four on the frailty scale and she was “generally quite independent”.
The pathologist said she had a history of bowel cancer but there was “no evidence (of) recurrence or spread”. Earlier, Judge William Hart explained to the jury that their role was different to a jury in a conventional trial, as Haxworth was unfit.
He explained that he had made that decision after taking into account medical evidence. The judge told the jurors that they had to decide “whether the defendant did the acts charged against him” and did not have to determine whether he was guilty or not guilty.
Judge Hart said this meant deciding “whether or not he unlawfully killed his wife Delia Haxworth ” but said: “Whether he intended to kill her or do her really serious harm does not have to be proved.” He explained to the jury that the defendant would not be present in court for the trial, which is expected to finish on Tuesday.