Man, 80, admits killing wife in Haworth (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Man, 80, admits killing wife in Haworth

7:00am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in Bradford By Jenny Loweth, T&A Reporter

An 80-year-old Royal British Legion member has admitted killing his wife at their home in Haworth.

Clement Callaghan pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Eileen, 76, but guilty to her manslaughter when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

His barrister, Peter Moulson, told the court: “This issue is a psychiatric one, diminished responsibility.”

He said his client had already seen a psychiatrist who was preparing a report on his mental condition.

Grey-haired Callaghan, who was wearing a casual dark grey top and lighter grey trousers, was remanded back into custody after the short hearing.

He is due to stand trial for murder on January 14 at Leeds Crown Court.

Mr Moulson said that the Crown will receive the defence team’s medical report on Callaghan’s mental state next month.

Callaghan, who is very hard of hearing, needed the charge to be read out to him three times by the court clerk before he could hear it from the dock at the back of the courtroom.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said he must have “every accommodation” to cater for his deafness at the trial and ordered that a hearing loop is provided for him.

Callaghan is accused of murdering his wife at their home in Ivy Bank Lane, Haworth, on August 4. Her body was discovered the following morning.

As well as being a member of the Royal British Legion, Callaghan was well-known in Haworth for his community involvement. He had been involved in a project to plant flowers and put fencing around the village war memorial.

After Mrs Callaghan’s body was found, the Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith, of Haworth Parish Church, spoke of the feeling among members of the community.

“Everybody in the village is absolutely shocked by what has happened,” he said.

Councillor Glen Miller, leader of the Conservative group on Bradford Council and a ward councillor for the Worth Valley, added: “It is very sad. I feel for their family and my condolences go to them.”