Man claimed suicide pact with wife he tried to kill

A PENSIONER who tried to murder his wheelchair-bound wife by smothering her with a pillow had told neighbours that the pair had a suicide pact, it was claimed today.

John Millar pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday to attempting to murder his 65-year-old wife, Phyllis, in what he later told police was a euthanasia bid. The court heard that the 67-year-old tried to kill the grandmother-of-two in their Ravelston Gardens home only hours after asking her if she "wanted to live".

But a neighbour told the Evening News that Millar had previously told other residents that the couple had a suicide pact.

Her husband carried out the murder bid at their home on 27 June last year after the pair had been involved in a "trivial" argument over what clothes she would wear.

Following his arrest, he told police: "I thought it would be a good thing to do at the time . . . for both of us." But the court heard that Mrs Millar insisted she had never told her husband that she wanted her life to end, and had never asked him to help her to die.

The court also heard that multiple sclerosis sufferer Mrs Millar, who now lives in a nursing home, still wanted to continue their marriage.

Millar, who was his wife's sole carer, faces sentence next month when background reports have been prepared and he has been remanded in custody until then.

Speaking after Millar pled guilty, their neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "John was a strange individual who kept himself to himself. He was her carer for years and we were surprised when they were married. Her children didn't like John, but they seemed to be a happy enough couple.

"Other neighbours said that John had previously told them they had a suicide pact. It involved grinding up paracetamol and taking that. It was a bizarre thing to go around telling people. But we were shocked when we learned what had happened."

The court heard that mum-of-three Mrs Millar was diagnosed as suffering from multiple sclerosis in 1984. Though her family had noticed a slow deterioration in her movement and physical abilities, they said they were not aware of any effect on her life expectancy or mental state.

The Millars had known each other for 13 years and married in August 2008 after living together for some time.

Lady Smith remanded Millar in custody pending sentence.