Elderly Man Charged with Wife’s Murder

A court heard that an 81-year-old man is accused of murdering his wife, following allegations that he struck her with a pan and strangled her at their residence. Brian James has been charged with the murder of Carol James, also 81, who passed away in Bexleyheath, south-east London, on Friday morning. Emergency services responded to the property on Dunwich Road, where Ms James was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Old Bailey was informed that the cause of death was determined to be compression of the neck. The defendant received medical treatment in hospital for a head injury before being transported to Lewisham Police Station and subsequently charged with murder. Mr. James was deemed medically unfit to attend a hearing before Judge Mark Dennis. The judge scheduled a plea hearing for March 10 and ordered Mr. James to be held in custody.