A DISABLED woman begged her husband not to kill her before he smothered her to death with a pillow.
Peter Matthews, 80, then confessed to the murder of wife Carol, 73, at their home in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in a 999 call.
Carol, a paraplegic who relied on a wheelchair after being diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome in 2000, had “everything to live for” when her husband murdered her in their bed.
She pleaded with her husband not to kill her and “tried to fight him off” as he smothered her, despite her frailty.
Matthews then called 999 after the murder on March 22 earlier this year – two days after he killed her.
He told police he wanted to “put her out of her misery”, even though she did not want to die.
He said he had spent the next two days trying to take his own life.
Emergency services rushed to the scene before Matthews was taken to hospital and later arrested and charged with murder.
He appeared at Stafford Crown Court today after admitting murder last month.
The OAP was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum term of 10 years.
The court heard how Carol was “fiercely independent” and an “extrovert”.
Matthews, meanwhile, was “quiet” but “loving and caring, doting on his wife”.
David Mason KC, prosecuting, said: “It is clear he coped very well with his wife’s disabilities.
“They were devoted to each other, and no one ever noticed there was a problem between them. They were a loving, happy couple.”
But in the days before her death, Carol had been in “terrible pain” due to a blockage in her catheter.
The pair had lost sleep over the issue, the court heard.
Mr Mason said: “[Matthew] said the killing was not planned and accepted that Carol had not wanted him to do it.
“Carol was extremely vulnerable due to her age and her disability. This wasn’t just putting a pillow over her head while she was asleep, she was awake and knew what he was doing.
“Even though Carol wanted her husband to stop, it is accepted he was under a huge amount of stress and the 24 years of caring for his wife must have placed enormous pressure upon them.
“He told the police the issues meant he had very little sleep and it is accepted by all of us that despite her stoicism, Carol was in a lot of pain.”
Anis Ali said the murder was the “culmination of many years of emotional and physical fragility experienced by Peter and Carol” – and Matthews believed it was an “act of mercy”.
He added: “They enjoyed together many decades of happy marriage, a married life he valued but of late, the difficulties experienced as a result of Carol’s medical condition and indeed his own mental health, led to the unfortunate event.
“He was and remains tired of life and that in itself is perhaps a demonstration of the very real stress and pain that he himself was enduring.”
However, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC, who jailed Mathhees, said he killed his wife because he “could not bear witness to her suffering”, but said Mrs Matthews wanted to live.
She said: “You were both her husband and her carer and all of those who have spoken about your relationship describe it as your being devoted to her, your being a loving husband and that you doted on her.
“This was plainly a very challenging period in your lives but she still saw the quality in her life and wanted it to continue.”
Matthews’ 10-year minimum sentence was reduced to nine years and 228 days due to time already served on remand.
