Haworth veteran killed wife 'because he thought she couldn't live without him' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Haworth veteran killed wife 'because he thought she couldn't live without him'

5:25pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Jenny Loweth, T&A Reporter

An army veteran hit his wife of 53 years on the head with a lump hammer and throttled her to death with a dog lead because he was determined to die and did not think she could cope without him.

Clement Callaghan took 150 tablets and cut himself after killing Eileen, 76, at their home in Ivy Bank Lane, Haworth, on August 4 last year.

He survived the suicide attempt after his vehicle was spotted in a lay-by and paramedics revived him.

Callaghan, 80, described at Bradford Crown Court this afternoon as “selfless and modest” was jailed for three years for the manslaughter of his wife on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

He had a depressive illness and described his last weeks as “hell on earth”.