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.