Fishcross, Clackmannanshire – A tragic incident unfolded in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, when a judge ruled that a loving husband with severe dementia had killed his wife of 50 years in a violent attack that was described as “wholly out of character.” John Pryde, 77, was accused of murdering his wife Catherine at their home, but due to his condition, he was declared unfit to stand trial.
The ruling, which came from Judge Lord Arthurson at the High Court in Dundee during an examination of facts hearing, saw Mr. Pryde formally acquitted of the murder charge and ordered to be detained at the State Hospital in Carstairs. Mrs. Pryde’s body was found bloodstained on the kitchen floor, succumbing to blunt force trauma to her head, chest, and neck. The court heard she also had cuts, bruising to her face, 16 rib fractures, and a fractured voicebox.
Lord Arthurson noted that Mrs. Pryde had sustained a brain injury reminiscent of those seen in road traffic accidents, emphasizing that the attack was out of character and that the couple had shared a loving and fulfilling relationship. Tragically, Mrs. Pryde passed away a week before their golden wedding anniversary. Blood was found in various rooms throughout the couple’s home, and Mr. Pryde, who had been diagnosed with dementia in 2021, was unaware of his wife’s death when initially questioned by police.
Psychiatrist Dr. Prathima Apurva mentioned that Mr. Pryde, who has been detained at the State Hospital since the incident, was unable to comprehend the nature and consequences of his actions due to the severity of his condition. Prosecutor Mark Mohammed KC described the case as “very tragic” for the family, highlighting that Mr. Pryde’s actions that night were driven by his significant cognitive impairment. An examination of the facts hearing allowed both the Crown and the defense to present evidence without a jury present.