Ex-Winchester mayor tried to smother mum with pillow - court

A former mayor covered his 92-year-old mother's face with a pillow to end her suffering, a court has heard.

David McLean, 72, was said to have told an NHS 111 operator: "She was dying and I helped her."

The former mayor of Winchester is charged with attempting to murder his mother Margaret at her home in Waltham Chase, Hampshire, on 6 October 2022.

He is not accused of killing her, even though she died at about the same time, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Ms McLean's body was found by police in the early hours of 7 October.

Jodie Mittell, prosecuting, told the jury: "The defendant in this case is David McLean, an upstanding member of the community, someone of impeccable good character.

"On the evening of 6 October 2022, Mr McLean, for reasons you may have some sympathy with, tried to end his elderly mother's life.

"She was on end-of-life care and he was her bedside vigil... Using a pillow, he attempted to smother her."

Ms Mittell said Mr McLean, who was mayor between 2017 and 2018, called the NHS 111 number, telling the operator: "I had to kill her, I had to. She was suffocating... I had to do it to stop her suffering."

She said he later told police: "I couldn't live with myself watching her drown.

"I can't remember where the cushion came from but I can remember putting it over her face and saying, 'I am sorry, Mum.'"

The judge, Mrs Justice McGowan, told the jurors: "It is pure coincidence that there is a debate in the House of Commons today on assisted dying and assisted suicide.

"This is not what this case is about and this will have no impact on this case at all."

McLean, of Morley Drive, Bishop's Waltham, denies the charge and the trial continues.

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