A downtrodden woman who had suffered years of psychological abuse from her controlling husband snapped at a time when he was ailing, deteriorating mentally and physically.

During a disagreement over their finances, she grabbed a pillow at his bedside and pushed it down over his face, holding it there for sufficient time for him to lose breath and consciousness.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Janet Dunn then left her 81-year-old husband, Anthony, in that unresponsive condition, in the bedroom at their home in Beech Court, Ponteland, neither trying to resuscitate him or call the emergency services.

Having made the excuse to one of her daughters, who lived at the house, of going for medication for her husband, she drove off to Bolam Lake, in Northumberland, where she took alcohol and other medication.

She turned on the ignition and blocked the exhaust of her Mercedes car in an apparent attempt to asphyxiate herself.

Read more: Pensioner admits manslaughter of husband at their Ponteland home

Passers-by near the car park came to her aid and she was pulled from the car, saying: “I just want to go. Let me go.”

She was taken to hospital where her condition improved sufficiently so that police felt able to arrest her for the alleged murder of her husband, the following morning.

Mr Dunn was found slumped in bed, later on Tuesday March 15, by the couple’s eldest daughter, and although emergency services were summoned, a paramedic pronounced his death at the scene a short time later that arrival.

Newcastle Crown Court today heard that while his wife, now 73, always admitted his killing, she only admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at a hearing earlier this week, following preparation of psychiatric and psychological reports in the case.

The prosecution accepted that plea on the day of the start of the defendant’s scheduled trial for murder.

Following updated medical reports, it was accepted she was suffering, "a depressive episode”, on the day of his death and briefly formed the intent to kill her husband when she smothered him.

Dunn, of previous good character, was sentenced to five years and three months’ imprisonment.

Prosecution counsel Peter Glenser QC told today’s (Thursday August 25) sentencing hearing there was, “a considerable psychiatric background” to the case.

He said her husband, who, while never violent, was quick-tempered and verbally abusive to his wife.

She said she often felt like she was, “walking on egg shells”.

Since the sudden death of their middle daughter last year Mr Dunn deteriorated, having suffered a heart attack and dementia.

He was said to have had boldly ambitious, over optimistic, financial plans, but which usually came to nought and the couple were left struggling financially, having to resort to borrowing from their surviving two daughters, money they were never likely to be able to pay back.

Read more: Northumberland pensioner to stand trial over husband's murder

John Elvidge QC, for the defendant, said she was largely passive and compliant to her husband during their relationship and only briefly formed a murderous intent on the day of his death.

Nevertheless, he said she was “desperately sorry” for killing her husband of 53 years.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Sloan told her: “The abnormality of mental function from which you were suffering substantially impaired your ability to form a rational judgement at the requisite time.

“The abnormality of mental function provides an explanation for acting as you did in killing your husband on the morning in question.”

But he added: “Throughout the course of your marriage you were the victim of coercive and controlling behaviour by your husband.”

In passing sentence, the judge said Dunn must complete two-thirds of the sentence before she can be released on parole.

Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Steel, of Northumbria Police 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.”

He said the Crown's acceptance of her guilty plea to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, earlier this week, “spared them a trial and the added stress that can bring.”

Det Chief Insp Steel added: “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.”

Read next:

                Northumberland woman Janet Dunn appears in court accused of killing Anthony Dunn

                Northumberland pensioner to stand trial over husband's murder

                Manslaughter conviction after Concord man's heart attack

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