Man jailed for killing wife after 'years of abuse'

A 78-year-old man who killed his wife after suffering "years" of abuse at her hands has been jailed.

Charles Graham, 78, strangled his wife of nearly 50 years, Davinia, 67, in their home in Cheltenham in August last year after she threatened to stab him.

Graham was jailed for three years for manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

Their surviving daughter, Paula White, told the court Mrs Graham had "very complex mental health needs" which her husband "bore the brunt for more than 40 years".

Ms White, 43, added: "He protected my sister and me from many of the things that my mum did."

The court heard Graham, a retired paramedic, snapped and killed his wife before calling Gloucestershire Constabulary to admit what he had done.

The court was also told that Mrs Graham suffered with mental health problems for many years, exacerbated by the deaths of their daughter and grandson, and had been abusive to her husband and family.

On August 22 Mrs Graham was admitted to hospital after taken an overdose, Adam Vaitilingam KC, prosecuting, said.

She was discharged on 30 August but she was readmitted hours later after an argument - in which the police were called - between the pair. She was then sent home in a taxi from the hospital.

In the early hours of the following day, Graham killed her after she threatened him and phoned the police.

He told call handlers: "Good morning. I might as well just say it. I'm afraid I killed my wife. I strangled her."

He told them that she turned up "very aggressive" and "very abusive", adding she threatened to stab him.

"I sort of, well, I lost it, that's all I can say," he said.

"I've always said that if ever I hit her, I wouldn't be able to stop. I've got many years of frustration anger inside me.

"I hit her a couple of times to try and stop her getting past me, and then I pushed her, I put my hands around her throat, and next thing I know, I'm strangling her."

Mr Vaitilingam added evidence "painted a significant picture of domestic abuse".

Breaking down in tears in court, Ms White described growing up as a child.

"I did not have the best relationship with my mum. She was not the easiest person to get along with," she said.

"However, since her death, there have been occasions where I missed my mum and the things she used to do for family.

"What I am not missing is the fear I lived in when my mum was alive.

"I was in fear of visiting or contacting other family members because unfortunately my mum would not be happy if I contacted them.

"This had a big impact on my life and feel a sense of freedom that my mum is no longer here."

Graham, of Fairfield Road, Cheltenham had denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of loss of control.

Sentencing Graham, Judge Peter Blair KC, The Recorder of Bristol, said: "I've read much about your case and your barrister has set out some of the history within your family of tragedies to people dying far too young, and most particularly of your wife suffering from complex mental health difficulties."

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