A former insurance salesman has admitted shooting and killing his wife at point blank range – but denies murder.
Rita King, 81, was suffering from dementia when she was shot dead in the lounge of De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, by her 87-year-old husband and former insurance agent Ronald King.
The trial for the case is currently taking place at Chelmsford Crown Court with the latest details revealing how Mr King carried a photograph of the couple on their wedding day inside the hessian bag he used to transport the revolver used to kill his partner.
In court it was revealed that Mr King attempted to turn the gun on himself following the shooting but then told staff at the care home: “I cannot do it.”
It was stated in court that Mr King shot Mrs King through the eye using a Second World War Enfield service revolver that was previously her father’s. The bullets used dated back to 1943.
After carrying out the shooting, Mr King reportedly told staff: “I’ve just shot my wife. She had suffered enough.”
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told the court that Mrs King could not have entered into a suicide pact as she did not have the ability to retain information. Jurors heard she was only able to make simple decisions about drinking and eating.
The trial continues.
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