An 88-year-old man, William Haxworth, has been spared a prison sentence after smothering his wife, Delia Haxworth, in their Bath home last year. The couple had shared over six decades of marriage before this tragic event unfolded.
In June 2024, following the incident, William threatened to take his own life by attempting to jump from scaffolding in central Bath. Passersby intervened, and he openly admitted to having killed his wife, whom he described as seriously ill. “I had to kill her and now it’s my turn,” he reportedly said.
Delia had recently been hospitalized after a fall, but those injuries were not considered a factor in her death. While she had a medical history of bowel cancer, no evidence suggested the illness had returned. When authorities arrived at the Upper Lansdown Mews residence, they found Delia lifeless on her bed.
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A note discovered at the scene appeared to be from William, stating: “It all became too much. Please forgive me and wonderful Dil. It all seemed lacking in point. You’ve all been so wonderful too. And so many kind neighbours. Forgive. Forgive. Will.”
A post-mortem examination confirmed that Delia died as a result of smothering. During the trial at Bristol Crown Court, it was determined that William was unfit to stand trial, so the jury was asked only to decide if he had committed the acts described. They concluded that he had.
Judge William Hart described the case as deeply tragic and acknowledged William’s genuine belief that his wife was suffering from a terminal illness. The judge also referenced a subsequent suicide attempt by William during legal proceedings, which resulted in hospitalization.
Expressing sympathy for all those affected by the loss, Judge Hart imposed a two-year supervision order requiring William to undergo medical treatment and regular monitoring by a probation officer and clinical supervisor. Due to legal constraints, a prison sentence was not an option.