MAN DETAINED FOR KILLING WIFE AND SON LOSES INHERITANCE BID
A man detained in a mental health facility for the murder of his partner and their child recently had his claim to an inheritance of £80,000 denied.Last year, Lisa Clay and Joseph Chadwick were fatally stabbed at their residence in Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire.
Paul Chadwick, aged 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced in October at Preston Crown Court to an indefinite hospital order.
Chadwick, who previously resided on Lowlands Road, argued that his mental state at the time of the murders justified his inheritance claim, asserting that Lisa would have wanted him to receive the money.
The court, however, dismissed this claim, citing the seriousness and severity of the crimes as reasons that the claim would not promote justice.
The beneficiaries of Lisa Clay’s estate, including her extended family, opposed Chadwick’s attempt.
The presiding judge noted that there was enough culpability to invoke the forfeiture rule and pointed out that Chadwick’s mental condition did not excuse his actions in committing the murders.
Under the law, individuals convicted of manslaughter are generally barred from benefiting financially from their crimes, although exceptions exist.
The court decided that Chadwick would keep his share of the property and a 50% portion of the funds in their joint account, considering that his struggles to find employment after his release were outweighed by his culpability.
This case highlighted the troubling use of mental health defenses in inheritance disputes following a brutal double homicide, with the court firmly rejecting Chadwick’s claims based on the severity of his conduct and legal principles.
