An 82-year-old Matamata man has been given home detention over the attempted murder of his wife in a suicide pact.
The judge agreed that Roy Morton has a deep emotional bond with his wife who suffered a severe stroke.
Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Morton was distressed by his wife s condition after she suffered a debilitating stroke and did not believe she was being well looked after.
He said they agreed to a suicide pact as she wanted to end her life.
Morton tried twice to carry out the pact using piping from his car s exhaust but failed.
The first time was in his car in his garage; the second time it was at a road layby but he was spotted by a passing motorist, who called police. Morton drove off and ended up near Karapiro where he was intercepted by officers.
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