Care home murder: Grandson had wanted to end grandmother's life 'for ages'

The grandson of a 94-year-old woman with dementia, who died when her throat was slit at her care home, has told police he had “wanted to do it for ages”.

'I am sorry, I have just killed my nan'

Antony Jennings had tea with his grandmother on November 29, last year, before killing her with a 20cm breadknife in the bedroom of her Essex care home because he “just couldn’t take it any more”.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how minutes after the incident at Forest Place Nursing Home, Jennings approached a nurse on duty and told her: "I am sorry, I have just killed my nan."

Earlier that day, Jennings signed in at his grandmother's nursing home in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Staff at Forest Place, which cares for 100 residents including those with dementia, said Mrs Wilson was “very pleased to see her grandson”.

’She was dead anyway’

But after Jennings spoke to the nurse, she followed him to the room and found Mrs Wilson "slumped" in her bedroom, which was covered in blood. Mrs Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.

When staff alerted police, officers found a backpack at the scene containing a 20cm bread knife and a 8cm kitchen knife. Jennings told police: “I just couldn’t take it anymore, she doesn’t know who anyone is, she doesn’t understand.

“She is in agony. She was gone as far as I was concerned. “I just wanted to get that done for ages mate. “She was dead anyway”.

’Paranoid schizophrenia and bizarre beliefs’

The court was told Mr Jennings’ family had been concerned about his mental health before the 33-year-old killed his relative.

Jennings, a roofer by trade, was described by psychiatrists as displaying behaviour "consistent with paranoid schizophrenia" including “moments of paranoia, delusions and bizarre beliefs".

On 24 September at Chelmsford Crown Court, Jennings pleaded guilty to manslaughter and pleaded not guilty to murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Great-great grandmother who loved bingo

Ruby Wilson had dementia and her sudden death came six months after she moved into Forest Place Nursing Home on 30 May 2017.

In a statement, made via Essex Police, Mrs Wilson’s family paid tribute to her with the words: “As a family we loved Ruby, who will be remembered for her creativity and love for crocheting, dressmaking and bingo.

“She always brought the family together and loved spending time with her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchild.

“She was together with her husband Leslie for 75 years and always had a song to sing for every occasion.

“She will be dearly missed by all of us, her loving family.”

The trial continues.