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Islington carer Joyce Evans spared jail over killing | Islington carer Joyce Evans spared jail over killing |
(35 minutes later) | |
A grandmother who strangled her terminally ill former partner has been given a suspended jail sentence. | A grandmother who strangled her terminally ill former partner has been given a suspended jail sentence. |
Joyce Evans, 69, killed 66-year-old former soldier Colin Ballinger at her home in New Orleans Walk, Islington, north London, last July. | Joyce Evans, 69, killed 66-year-old former soldier Colin Ballinger at her home in New Orleans Walk, Islington, north London, last July. |
She was found guilty of manslaughter at a previous hearing at the Old Bailey. | She was found guilty of manslaughter at a previous hearing at the Old Bailey. |
Judge Gerald Gordon said Evans, who has depression, should not have been left to provide the "arduous care" the dying man needed. | Judge Gerald Gordon said Evans, who has depression, should not have been left to provide the "arduous care" the dying man needed. |
Evans, who has served what would be equivalent to a 19-month jail sentence on remand, was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, coupled with three years' supervision. | Evans, who has served what would be equivalent to a 19-month jail sentence on remand, was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, coupled with three years' supervision. |
'Getting on my nerves' | 'Getting on my nerves' |
The judge told her: "You had to provide constant and arduous care in increasingly difficult circumstances. | The judge told her: "You had to provide constant and arduous care in increasingly difficult circumstances. |
"With the enormous benefit of hindsight and knowledge, far more active intervention was necessary to get you out of the situation you were in. | "With the enormous benefit of hindsight and knowledge, far more active intervention was necessary to get you out of the situation you were in. |
"But it has to be said that the main reason that did not happen was that you never really revealed the scale of the problem to others." | "But it has to be said that the main reason that did not happen was that you never really revealed the scale of the problem to others." |
The court heard Evans put pressure on Mr Ballinger's neck and put a bag over his head, before telling a neighbour: "I think I've killed Colin. He was getting on my nerves." | The court heard Evans put pressure on Mr Ballinger's neck and put a bag over his head, before telling a neighbour: "I think I've killed Colin. He was getting on my nerves." |
Evans, who has arthritis, became Mr Ballinger's sole carer after he was diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. | Evans, who has arthritis, became Mr Ballinger's sole carer after he was diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. |
She had been reluctantly caring for the former soldier for six months and had considered killing herself before she killed Mr Ballinger, the court heard. | She had been reluctantly caring for the former soldier for six months and had considered killing herself before she killed Mr Ballinger, the court heard. |
Psychiatrist Dr Piyal Sen told the Old Bailey: "She felt trapped with no way out." | Psychiatrist Dr Piyal Sen told the Old Bailey: "She felt trapped with no way out." |
Richard Carey-Hughes QC, for Evans, said: "She was probably the last person in the world to become his carer." | Richard Carey-Hughes QC, for Evans, said: "She was probably the last person in the world to become his carer." |
In April, Evans was cleared of murder by a jury but was convicted of manslaughter, which she denied. | In April, Evans was cleared of murder by a jury but was convicted of manslaughter, which she denied. |
Following sentencing, acting Det Insp Jason Prendergast said: "Although terminally ill, Mr Ballinger was denied the chance for his life to come to a natural conclusion. | |
"This is a tragic case and it illustrates that a so-called 'mercy killing' is not a defence in law, and there is no statute to prevent those that carry out this type of offence from facing a jury." |