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Dementia Victim, 90, Killed by Partner Who Then Died
11 Aug
Summary
- A 90-year-old woman with dementia died after being hit with a hammer.
- Her partner, 75, took his own life shortly after the attack.
- The incident occurred at their home in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.
An inquest has revealed a tragic event where a 90-year-old woman, Barbara Stevens, suffering from advanced dementia, died from multiple skull fractures after being attacked with a hammer. Her partner, 75-year-old Robert Page, a recently retired driving instructor, took his own life. The couple was discovered at their residence in College Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, on May 2nd of last year after concerned family alerted the authorities.
Senior coroner Laura Bradford concluded at East Sussex Coroner's Court that Page died by suicide and Stevens by unlawful killing. Evidence suggests Page struck Stevens, who was seated on the sofa, at least eight times with a hammer. She was rushed to Royal Sussex County Hospital but died the following day.
Investigators found no evidence of external factors, concluding it was a spontaneous incident. It is believed Page lost control, attacked Stevens, and then committed suicide, possibly under the misapprehension that he had already killed her. The events are thought to have occurred during the night between April 30th and May 1st.
