MURDER accused Robert Lewis stabbed himself in the chest six times and tried to hang himself after killing his wife, a court heard.

Lewis is accused of killing his wife Janet Lewis in Padgetts Way, Hullbridge.

The 81-year-old is alleged to have murdered his 76-year-old wife by stabbing her in the neck on September 1, 2019.

The trial continued at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday and the jury heard how Lewis suffered six stab wounds and attempted to hang himself.

Giving evidence in the court, Dr Hugh Series, a psychiatrist, said: “He had stabbed himself in the chest and had six wounds.

“He also tried to hang himself and had fallen down. He also had a broken hip and two neck fractures.

“There was also lots of blood found at the home by investigating teams and officers.

“There was some evidence on his brain of a small stroke and we could see brain shrinkage.

“His cognitive ability was diminished and he was very worried.

“Had went through a test to check his mental health and ability and various tests and checks were done.

“His attention ability was good but his memory was lower than that of a normal healthy person.”

Lewis denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. while the couple’s son Paul Lewis took to the dock on Wednesday and insisted his mother never feared for her safety.

On Thursday the court heard how Lewis used five knives and a bat to attack her – with blood spattered across the home and signs of a disturbance.

Dr Series added: “We tested him naming items with a given letter and this was not brilliant and was impaired.

“He had asked to be taken off some medication as he claimed it made him more confused and was once reluctant to be assessed.”

The court also heard a rope was found in the loft and Mr Lewis had fallen before he was treated in the hallway by medics.

Police and paramedics, as well as an air ambulance, were called to the scene at roughly 1.50pm, but Janet Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.

The trial continues.