Hubby built electric chair to kill wife

Updated on: 08 July,2011 07:22 AM IST |
Agencies |

A scorned husband whose wife asked for a divorce plotted to kill her using a home-made electric chair

A scorned husband whose wife asked for a divorce plotted to kill her using a home-made electric chair.

Andrew Castle (61) was so incensed when Margaret said she wanted to end their 18-year marriage that he hatched plans to rig up a metal armchair to the mains and invited her round "for a chat".

He got her to sit in the chair and planned to kill her with a rubber cosh before turning it on.

But Margaret got up and escaped after a violent struggle. A passer-by called police, who found the chair in the couple's garage at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs.

Margaret was treated in hospital for minor head injuries. Castle, who cut his wrists in a suicide bid, admitted attempted murder and was jailed for 10 years at Preston Crown Court this week.

A psychiatric report said he had obsessive compulsive disorder. A neighbour said, "Everyone's very upset. We always thought they were a lovely couple who enjoyed walking and cruising holidays."

Castle said he was "simply unable to cope" with the divorce and found it "overwhelming".

Detective Inspector Martin Clague, from Lancashire police, said, "It was a distressing case. He intended to kill his wife and had set plans in place to do this. It is rare for someone to attempt to kill their wife, or anyone, by these means."

He added, "The fact Castle entered a guilty plea at least saves the family from having to go through the ordeal of listening to the evidence, which could have been very distressing for them."