Judge imposes supervision order on Bath man who killed his wife

A judge has given a Bath pensioner a two-year supervision order after a jury found he unlawfully killed his wife of more than 60 years at their home in June last year.

Upper Lansdown Mews in Bath | Photo © Bath Echo

William Haxworth appeared before His Honour Judge William Hart at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 19th December for sentencing.

It followed a two-day finding of fact hearing in September as the 88-year-old, from Upper Lansdown Mews, was not fit to stand trial. The case had been adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

Wearing a hat, shirt and tie, jumper and corduroy trousers and using a walking stick, Mr Haxworth was accompanied into courtroom 10 by his daughter on Friday. He did not sit in the dock but in front of it.

The judge explained that his options were limited by law, and there was no question of conviction or punishment as there had been no attempt to prove the other ingredients of the offence of murder.

He said that the two-year supervision order, which is the maximum allowed, would include supervision by both a probation officer and a registered medical practitioner.

Judge Hart said that Mr Haxworth had a “fixed belief” that his 85-year-old wife Delia had been suffering from a “very serious if not terminal” illness.

He described the circumstances as “most tragic” and gave his condolences to “all who knew and loved Delia and those who care for and love you”.

He said that Mr Haxworth had made another attempt to take his own life and had spent some time in hospital.

Police had been contacted on Tuesday 18th June 2024 when members of the public reported concern for the welfare of a distressed older man in Bennett Street who was threatening to jump from the top of scaffolding.

The man, later identified as Mr Haxworth, told those trying to help him that he had killed his wife, and now it was “his turn”. He repeated the remark when police arrived.

Officers went to the couple’s home nearby and found Mrs Haxworth’s body. Despite his initial comments, Mr Haxworth gave officers no account of what had happened. As he was deemed unfit to stand trial, no defence case was presented.

A post-mortem examination established that Mrs Haxworth had died from suffocation, with evidence of smothering. Although she’d had some recent health issues, including falls, she had no terminal illness.

At Friday’s sentencing, the judge praised those who had prevented Mr Haxworth from hurling himself off the scaffolding.

Following the sentence, friends of Mr Haxworth who were in court hugged him.

Detective Superintendent Tom Herbert said: “Delia’s unexpected death was not due to natural causes.

“Medical evidence showed that although she had some recent health issues, she had no terminal illness.

“The jury, after hearing the evidence from a thorough and necessary investigation, unanimously agreed that she was unlawfully killed by her husband.

“This is a tragic case, and our sympathies remain with the Haxworths in their loss.”