The son of a doctor who was stabbed to death by his mentally ill wife has shared a moving tribute at his father’s inquest this morning.
An inquest has opened into the death of Dr Geraint Hughes who was stabbed in the heart by his wife in Feock.
Dr Hughes was killed by Marion Williams, a former GP herself, on November 15, 2013, after she suspected him of infidelity.
She pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility on January 6, 2014, and was detained in hospital, where she remains.
Acting senior coroner Andrew Cox opened the two-day inquest at Truro Magistrates' Court this morning.
He outlined Marion Hughes’ long history of mental illness going back to November 1994.
Giving evidence, Dr Hughes’ son Mark – also a doctor – shared a tribute to his late father.
He recalled a time when Geraint had fallen off a ladder and injured himself.
Dr Mark Hughes said: “He made a point of making me and my brother dinner before seeking medical help – to give you an impression of what kind of father he was.”
He continued: “The only time I can remember him crying was when he first admitted her [Marion] to hospital.
“That’s how much guilt he felt about admitting her, even though it was clearly appropriate.”
Marion was admitted to hospital twice in the years before the manslaughter.
The first time was when detained by police in August 2012, the second voluntarily in October 2013.
She was released on November 6, 2013, one week before killing her husband.
The inquest continues.
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