Pensioner beaten to death by wife, 26

12 April 2012

A pensioner was bludgeoned to death with a giant wooden pestle by his 26-year-old wife.

William West, 76, and his wife Kate Atori-West were at their beachside holiday home in Sanyang, in Gambia, when he was hit over the head three times as he slept. The retired builder died instantly.

His remains were then set alight and buried, an inquest heard yesterday.

The Irishman's wife initially told police he went missing while the couple took a day trip to Senegal, the hearing at Hastings Magistrates Court heard.

She returned to the UK three days later and went to her local police station in Hastings, East Sussex, to report him missing.

But when Mr West's friends became suspicious, she returned to Gambia and was arrested for his murder.

At first Atori-West denied any involvement. But in a police reconstruction, she admitted hitting Mr West with the pestle and setting light to his body, the court heard.

Coroner Alan Craze recorded an unlawful killing verdict.

Atori-West, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, is in a Gambian prison awaiting trial. She is due in court on Thursday.

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