Pictured: First photo released of wife gunned down by husband, 86, in care home 'mercy killing'

Hubby guns wife down with revolver after repeating 'she's had enough' 

Rita King was shot in the head by husband Ronald, in what is thought to be a 'mercy killing'

THE first photograph has been released of an elderly woman who was shot dead by her 86-year-old husband in what is thought to be a mercy killing. Police are questioning one-armed Ronald King after he shot 81-year-old Rita, who suffered from dementia, once in the head with his WWII British Army revolver at close range as she sat in a wheelchair in the communal lounge.

The first photograph has been released of Rita King, who was shot by husband Ronald

Officers were called to De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, at 9am on Monday. Manager Julie Curtis grabbed distraught Ronald and took the gun away from him after he walked out of the room.

Woman was shot in the head with a revolver at close range

She said: “I was in reception and he came towards me shaking. I saw he had a revolver and thought, ‘This isn’t real’. “All I could think was I had to protect my staff. So I cuddled him and said, ‘Please give me the gun’.

Tragedy ... police at home

“He gave me the gun and we put it in a drug cabinet. We didn’t know anyone had been shot at first. We went into the lounge and found her dead in her wheelchair. “He had gone into the lounge and shot her through the head. She was still sat in her wheelchair.


“We called 999 and sat him down to wait. He kept saying over and over again, ‘I think she’s had enough. We’ve had enough’. “He was mumbling something about her not being happy.” It is believed other residents were in the lounge when Rita was killed at about 9am.

Ronald was arrested at the privately-run De La Mer House and is now being questioned by police. The couple’s neighbour Brian Thornton, 73, said: “Ronald was totally devoted to her. He used to visit her twice a week. She had a lot of ill health. Paramedics were called a few times because she had fallen over. Ronald only has one arm so most things were difficult for him.

Ronald was arrested and placed in custody

“She was a lovely lady.” Ronald had been staying at the home for a week over Christmas. Rita had been there for about six months. It is thought he took a taxi to their bungalow, which is near the home, on Boxing Day and got the gun.

Staff described Rita as “lovely but very frail”. They said the loyal couple had no children. Neighbour Gwen Horlock, 83, said: “It’s so sad. How on earth does an 86-year-old man get a gun anyway?”

DCI Simon Werrett said: “It is an unusual investigation.” Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the killing.