A reclusive East Devon pensioner who bludgeoned his sister to death in her bed will remain locked in a secure hospital.
Richard Law, aged 68, of Lark Rise, Newton Poppleford, in East Devon, admitted hitting 70-year-old sister Judith six times with a hammer because he ‘could not cope’ with their anxiety and depression, and ‘wanted it to end’.
Law was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Friday, July 25, after he admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Prosecutor Joanna Martin KC told Exeter Crown Court that Law dialled 999 and told the operator he had killed his sister by hitting her on the head, saying: “I just could not cope with it all. We’ve both gone mad and we both want it to end.”
The court heard how ‘reclusive and withdrawn’ Law and his sister, a ‘loyal, kind, bubbly, intelligent woman’ both suffered with anxiety and depression.
In January this year, at their East Devon home, Law took a hammer and struck his sister multiple times on the head while she was in bed.
Reclusive East Devon pensioner Richard Law, who bludgeoned his sister to death in her bed, will remain locked in a secure hospital.
Photo: D&C Police.
Law told psychiatrists that both Judith and he were suicidal, claiming the stress built up and up but it was ‘nothing to do with anger’.
He said he would kill her with a hammer then kill himself, but he was unable to go through with the suicide after putting a Stanley knife to his throat.
Judith Law died at the hands of her brother, Richard, who bludgeoned her to death in her bed.
Photo: D&C Police.
The court heard Law was suffering with a severe depressive disorder but had never sought medical help in 30 years. His sister was a vulnerable woman suffering with arthritis.
Law, who had no previous convictions, was remorseful and became preoccupied with his sister’s declining physical and mental health, the court was told.
He said there had been ‘no big argument’ but admitted to a build-up of stress since Christmas between the siblings.
The defendant was described as ‘reclusive and withdrawn’ while his sister was a ‘loyal, kind, bubbly, intelligent woman’ and more sociable.
The court heard how the brother and sister were not close. They ate and shopped separately even though they lived in their late parents’ house.
The house in Lark Rose, Newton Poppleford, was badly hit by floods in 2023 and Judith collapsed as she struggled to live in the same house as her brother.
A pathologist said Judith suffered multiple hits with a hammer to her head, with at least six blows.
Barrister Dan Pawson-Pounds, defending, said: “There were clear tensions in their relationship exacerbated by the flood damage and repair work in 2023.
“They lived their lives separately under the same roof but there was no suggestion of any violence – Judith could stand up for herself.”
Judge Anna Richardson sentenced Law to a S37 hospital order with a S41 restriction order saying that Law will be treated in a secure hospital rather than being sent to jail.
Police were called to the East Devon village at around lunchtime on January 17, 2025, after Law called 999, telling police ‘I’ve killed my sister, so I need you to come’.
Upstairs, in her bedroom, police found Judith Law dead with a serious head injury.
Brother Richard Law was arrested on suspicion of murder and on the way to custody, to be interviewed by police, he told officers he had hit his sister with a hammer, blaming worsening mental health.
He admitted he had been suicidal and planned to kill himself straight after, but could not go through with it.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “In his initial call to police, Law said: “I’ve killed my sister, so I need you to come.”
“Following his arrest on suspicion of murder, Law made a number of significant comments to officers on their way to custody in which he confirmed he had hit Judith with a hammer and that over the previous four weeks, since Christmas Day, his mental health had gone into decline.
“He also said he had intended to take his own life after killing his sister and had had suicidal thoughts in the weeks leading up to the attack but couldn’t go through with it.”
Her Honour Judge Anna Richardson detained Law in a secure hospital where he has been since January 2025, sentencing him to a hospital order, under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act, with a Section 41 restriction.
Guy Biggar, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector from the force’s major crime investigation team, said: “The family, friends and neighbours of Judith have endured a tragic loss in exceptionally sad circumstances.
“I would like to thank them for their support throughout this investigation and my thoughts, and those of the entire investigation team, are with them at this time.”
