Dunstable man sentenced following death of his wife

An elderly man who killed his wife of more than 50 years has been sentenced to 21 months after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Roger Worby, 84, of Kingsbury Avenue, Dunstable, called Bedfordshire Police on the afternoon of 23 January 2025 to report that his wife had died in what he claimed to be a suicide pact gone wrong.

Worby stated that he had struck his wife, 84-year-old Margaret Worby, on the head with a hammer multiple times, with the intention to knock her out.

However, the injuries resulted in her bleeding to death.

He advised officers when they arrived at the couple’s home that he had attempted to take his own life, but had failed, telling officers it was, “the worst day of his life.”

As part of the investigation, Worby was assessed by medical professionals and diagnosed with early-onset dementia. This led to the indictment being amended from murder to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

At Luton Crown Court on Monday 15 December, Worby was sentenced to 21 months, with 11 of those already served in custody, and the remainder on licence.

Upon sentencing, His Honour Judge Simon said, “The different diagnosis since you were placed in custody shows consistent evidence that you were suffering from a mild neurocognitive disorder, which caused a substantial impairment of your ability to form a rational judgement.

“The medical professionals who have interviewed you have stated that it provides an explanation for your conduct.

“You led a productive and blameless life for almost 84-years before this incident. You were married to Margaret for 56 years and the two of you were described as doing everything together. You told the 999-operator ‘it’s my worst ever nightmare, we were so much in love and now it’s come to this’. There can be no doubt that your remorse is genuine and heartfelt.

“Though you were mentally unwell at the time, you must still live with the knowledge that you were responsible for Margaret’s death.”

Detective Inspector Verity McCann, from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Margaret’s family as they come to terms with this devastating loss.

“During our investigation, we identified vulnerabilities which sadly led to Margaret’s brutal killing. As a result, Roger now faces the consequences of his actions, including the loss of his wife and the life they once shared.

“This has been an incredibly traumatic experience for the family, who have shown remarkable courage and understanding throughout. We respectfully ask that their privacy is respected during this difficult time.”