Plea change in Peterhead hammer murder case

By Charlotte Thomson
Published on 01/08/2012 00:00

A WOMAN has admitted ­murdering her partner with a hammer at their home.

Sharon Hollinsworth, 44, attacked Andrew Oates, also 44, hitting him about the head and body, on 22 October 2010.

His body was found in the bedroom of their Peterhead home after the hotel manageress confessed to police two days later.

She went on trial with her daughter Natalie, 22, and son Christopher, all three charged with conspiring to murder and murder at the High Court in Aberdeen on Monday. They changed their pleas on the second day yesterday.

Sharon Hollinsworth admitted murder, conspiracy to murder and an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. Her two children admitted conspiring to murder. Natalie Hollinsworth also admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The Crown accepted Natalie and Christopher’s not guilty pleas to murder.

Advocate depute Kath Harper said: “Andrew Oates suffered from anxiety and anger management issues.

“Sharon Hollinsworth told police she had killed her partner. She said she had hit [him] on the head with a hammer because he went for her son. She told the police it was her intention to bury the body in the back garden. She confessed that she had started to dig but couldn’t go through with it.”

The court heard police discovered the body under a duvet with cable ties on his wrists.

Sharon Hollinsworth told of her life with her “violent” partner when she confessed.

Lord Doherty remanded all three in custody.

Sentence was deferred until 28 August at the High Court in Edinburgh.