What pensioner asked his dementia-stricken wife before shooting her in the head at point blank range with WW2 revolver
Ronald King snuck antique gun in a Tesco-bag-for-life before care home shooting
A ONE-ARMED pensioner asked his dementia-suffering wife "you had enough?" before shooting her dead in a care home with a WW2 revolver.
Ronald Charles King, 87, walked into the home where Rita, his wife of almost 60 years lived, before gunning her down in a bid to put an end to her suffering.
He had denied murdering Rita, 81, during his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, until today when his plea to a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted.
Results of a scan revealed Ronald had brain damage in his frontal lobe which had led to paranoid delusions ahead of the murder.
The jury heard how the couple enjoyed breakfast together at the De La Mer House care home in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex on December 28.
He carried a 1934 Enfield service revolver he'd inherited from her father, wrapped in a yellow duster inside a brown Tesco bag for life.
Staff described seeing King shake as he held the gun to Rita's head and shot her in the eye.
King then turned the gun on himself but said he couldn't pull the trigger and staff talked him into handing over the gun which was then locked up in a cupboard.
Earlier in the trial Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said King had asked his wife: "You had enough?"
He told cops that she replied: ";oh yes".
Mr Jackson added: "As he was being driven to the police station he said I shot the wife to prevent her suffering any more."
A few days before the shooting King told staff "it will be the end of me and Rita", but they thought he was talking about moving care homes.
King had struggled to cope with Rita and he moved into the care home with her on March 27 2015, but moved out two days later after he said it "wasn't for him".
Rita remained at the care home and began using a wheelchair, and while she occasionally became aggressive, she still recognised her husband when he came to visit.
Mr Jackson said: "What Mrs King wanted was to be at home with her husband.
"She recognised her husband. She looked forward to those times when her husband was with her and she was happy when he was there with her."
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Mr Jackson said that King chose a time when staff were busy to shoot his wife.
He said: "Rita King was sitting in her wheelchair in the lounge, her handbag was hung on one of the handles of the chair.
"He pulled the trigger and the gun discharged once. The bullet entered her head through her right eye.
"The defendant said 'I have just shot my wife, she had suffered a lot.
"In front of these members of staff he then held the gun to his own head, his right hand was shaking.
"He said 'I can't do it, I can't pull the trigger'."
Mr Jackson said after hearing one of the staff members scream after seeing Rita's dead body, King said: "Well she had enough and I am dying anyway.
"I just couldn't pull the trigger on myself."
Julie Curtis, who has been a registered manger at the care home for the past 10 years said King usually visited Rita a couple of times a week.
Speaking of the moment she confronted him after the shooting, she told the court: "I have never seen anybody shake so much. He was shaking from head to foot.
"He said 'I can't pull the trigger, I can't pull the trigger. I am sure he murmured then that he 'I killed my wife'."
King, who was 86 at the time of the shooting, has white hair and no left arm below the elbow.
He has also pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition.
King was remanded in custody to be sentenced in two weeks time.
Speaking after the trial, Rita's family said: "The tragedy of what happened has had an impact on the whole family. We are a large but close family.
"We would never have imagined what happened to Rita. It has shocked us all and left us deeply saddened.
"We know her last months in the De La Mer home were happy and she was well looked after.
"She used to love sitting watching the birds, especially when they used the bird bath.
"We are sure she still watches them now she is at rest."
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Alan Pitcher, said: "Ronald King has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing his wife, Rita King.
"I would like to pay tribute to Ronald and Rita's families for the support that they have provided to our investigation and the dignity that they have shown throughout.
"This is a particularly sad and tragic case and my thoughts are very much with them at this time."
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