A man in his 90s has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the “mercy killing” of his “darling” wife.
Donald Morley, who is expected to die within six months, suffocated his wife Jean with a pillow when she was 92 and suffering with dementia.
The Morleys met in the UK at the age of 16, married seven years later and moved to Australia. While his wife worked as an administrative assistant, Morley was employed by the Royal Australian Mint.
Donald’s barrister described it as a “mercy killing”, committed by a man who believed, as the couple’s health rapidly declined, they had “lived too long.”
Donald Morley and his wife Jean had been together since the age of 16
The judge noted that they were well-known as a devoted couple who “did everything together” and that they were childless. Judge Justice Mossop told the court in Canberra: “The offender always used to call Jean ‘my darling’.”
On the night of the murder in July 2023, Justice Mossop said that Morley waited until his wife went to bed at their home in the suburb of Fisher. At about 9pm, he smothered her with a pillow and then lay awake beside her body, trying but failing in his attempts to kill himself.
His crime was discovered the next day, when a nurse visited their house. He cried as he confessed, telling the nurse he had done ‘a terrible thing.’ Police later seized a suicide note, in which Morley apologised and wrote that the couple had been ‘afraid of the future.’
Mossop said it was unfortunate the couple had not had any younger people, such as children, to help them navigate the challenges of being “very old people.”
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Police at the property in Fisher, Canberra, where the incident took place
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While the judge acknowledged the murder was not motivated by malice, he said the offence involved “a gross breach of trust” in which Jean was killed by her husband in her home.
Donald was suffering from multiple health problems, including skin cancer. He declined hospital treatment because he was worried about leaving his wife alone.
Jean would become distressed if she were left alone owing to her worsening dementia.
Despite some discussions about voluntary euthanasia, the couple had not made a suicide pact. Mossop emphasised that Mrs Morley had not asked to be killed.
Neighbour Judy Jones, who knew the Morleys for 40 years, told A Current Affair: “They were devoted to each other. I mean they had their snappy moments, but they were devoted to each other.
“I think it’s only a mercy killing as far as I’m concerned. He’s done it out of compassion. Not hate. He loved her very much.”
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
