FRANK LONG SENTENCED IN PENNANT, CEREDIGION FOR MANSLAUGHTER OF WIFE AFTER VIOLENT ALTERCATION

In a tragic case that unfolded in the quiet village of Pennant, Ceredigion, Frank Long, an 80-year-old man, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after admitting to the manslaughter of his wife, Mavis Long. The incident, which shocked the local community, stemmed from a violent confrontation within their family home, leading to the tragic death of Mrs. Long, aged 77.

Details of the case reveal that Mrs. Long’s health had been declining, with post-mortem examinations indicating she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Her condition appeared to have contributed to her increasingly difficult behavior in her later years. During the court proceedings, Prosecutor Paul Hobson described a series of events that culminated in the fatal incident. He explained that after a heated argument in May, Long drove to visit a friend in the West Midlands, confiding that his wife had become aggressive, shouting and throwing cups at him. Long expressed his fear that he might do something harmful during the altercation.

Long admitted that he left the scene because he was afraid he might harm his wife. The following morning, he returned to their farm in Pennant, where Mrs. Long greeted him with more shouting and, in the process, knocked off his glasses. Long recounted the incident, saying, “It just all kicked off, I just lost it, I just had enough, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I said ‘You snapped my glasses you silly so-and-so.’ I grabbed her, grabbed her around the neck... I started shaking her to make her see sense.”

Following the assault, Long contacted emergency services, telling them, “I think my wife is dead, I think my wife is dead. I think I’ve done it. We have had a raging argument and I think I’ve strangled her.” When police arrived, they found Mrs. Long deceased at the scene. During police interviews, Long explained that he was overwhelmed by a “red mist” during the attack, a phrase often used to describe a temporary loss of control. He reiterated, “It just all kicked off, I just lost it, I just had enough, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I said ‘You snapped my glasses you silly so-and-so.’ I grabbed her, grabbed her around the neck... I started shaking her to make her see sense.”

Judge Paul Thomas presided over the case and made it clear that Long’s actions resulted in his wife’s death. He emphasized that this was not a mercy killing but a tragic consequence of a loss of temper. The judge pointed out that Long had throttled Mrs. Long with such force that she must have been terrified and unable to defend herself. While acknowledging that Long did not intend to kill his wife, the judge noted that, as an intelligent individual, Long should have been aware of the dangers associated with strangulation.

Typically, sentences for manslaughter of this nature would range from eight to nine years. However, considering Long’s guilty plea, remorse, age, and previous good character, the court decided to reduce the sentence. Consequently, Frank Long was sentenced to a term of three years and four months in prison, marking a somber chapter in the community of Pennant, Ceredigion.