SOMERSET PENSIONER DETAINED INDEFINITELY FOR KILLING WIFE
A man from Somerset, Hugh Webber, has been detained indefinitely following the fatal stabbing of his wife, Angela Webber.The incident took place at their residence in Dunster in October 2020, where Webber, aged 79, inflicted 15 stab wounds during the assault.
Court proceedings revealed that Webber was suffering from dementia and had been prescribed medication for an organic delusional disorder.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, Angela Webber was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.
Though Webber was found unfit to stand trial for murder, a jury convicted him of unlawful killing.
Judge William Hart ordered Webber's detention under the Mental Health Act 1983, citing concerns over his mental state and the risks he posed to others.
The court heard that Webber's mental health issues included delusional beliefs about a supposed £22,000 debt owed to a loan shark, which was unsubstantiated.
Just prior to the incident, Webber dialled 999 and remarked, 'Yesterday, I just tried to murder my wife.' Medical evidence indicated that Webber's delusional disorder was exacerbated by his dementia, rendering him unable to participate in legal proceedings.
The judge’s ruling was based on psychiatric testimony and determined that Webber required treatment under Section 37 of the Act.
The case was met with great sadness, and both the court and law enforcement expressed their sympathies to the family of the victim.
