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Diminished Responsibility Plea in County Durham Killing
23 Jul
Summary
- Patricia Hewitt admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.
- The killing of Angela Lloyd occurred at the victim's home in August 2025.
- Hewitt will be sentenced on July 30th after psychiatric assessments.
A woman has admitted to the manslaughter of another, citing diminished responsibility as her defense. Patricia Hewitt, aged 42, pleaded guilty to the charge concerning the death of 56-year-old Angela Lloyd. The incident took place at the victim's residence in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on August 13, 2025.
During a brief hearing at Teesside Crown Court, Hewitt, who is from Stanley, denied the more serious charge of murder. Prosecutors accepted her plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The court was informed that several psychiatrists had assessed Hewitt at the request of both the prosecution and defense teams.
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks stated that the diminished responsibility plea was deemed appropriate. He confirmed that Angela Lloyd's family had been informed of the situation and that the Crown Prosecution Service had reviewed the decision to accept the plea at the highest level. Hewitt has been remanded to a secure hospital facility pending her sentencing, which is scheduled for July 30.
