Woman with dementia, 90, killed by partner - court

A 90-year-old woman with dementia was killed after being repeatedly hit on the head with a hammer by her partner who took his own life, an inquest has heard.

Robert Page, 75, and Barbara Stevens were found at their home in College Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, after police were called by family who could not contact them on 2 May last year.

Recently retired driving instructor Page was found dead, while Stevens was unconscious but breathing on the the living room sofa.

On Tuesday at East Sussex Coroner's Court, in Lewes, senior coroner Laura Bradford concluded Page died by suicide and Stevens by unlawful killing.

The court heard Page probably struck his partner with a hammer at least eight times as she sat on the settee.

Paramedics took her to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, where she died the next day with extensive skull fractures.

The inquest heard Page recently retired to help take care of Stevens, who had advancing dementia.

GP Stephen French said Stevens had been diagnosed three months earlier and there were reports of her "becoming angry and argumentative".

Sussex Police's Det Insp James Meanwell said neighbours reported hearing arguments two days before police accessed the house.

He said there was a report of neighbours hearing Stevens shouting for eight hours on 30 April.

He told the hearing the investigation concluded there was no evidence to show anything other than a spontaneous incident.

Reading out a report he said it seemed likely Page lost control, attacked Stevens and then took his own life "probably under the impression he had already killed her".

Clues suggested the events unfolded in the hours of darkness between 30 April and 1 May, Meanwell said.

Two notes were found at their home, including one which indicated Page's intention, the inquest heard.

While one showed there were tensions leading up to the attack, the other set out arrangements for the couple's dogs.

The inquest heard police would have probably charged Page with murder if he had survived.

Addressing the families Bradford called the case "incredibly sad".

Concluding, the coroner said Stevens was on medication but her condition deteriorated "rapidly".

"She and her partner were struggling to manage the symptoms," she said.

"Based on circumstances I find it is more likely than not Barbara's death was caused by the actions of Robert.

"Robert's death occurred as a result of a deliberate act by him. I have heard evidence he was struggling in the weeks and months."

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