Strangler husband 'was depressed'

Mark Aldrich admits killing his wife but denies a charge of murder

A man accused of murdering his wife was suffering an abnormality of mind when he strangled her, a court has heard.

Mark Aldrich, 40, has admitted he killed his wife Dilys at their home in Dartford, Kent, in a row over their children.

He told Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday he did not mean to kill his wife and let go of her when he realised what he was doing.

And he said he made no attempt to revive her because he was more concerned about getting their triplet sons away from the scene.

'Lost self-control'

Dr Philip Joseph, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, told the court he believed Mr Aldrich had been suffering an "abnormailty of mind".

The recruitment consultant's depression and anxiety had led him to feel everything was "closing in on him", Dr Joseph said.

He told the jury that in his opinion Mr Aldrich lost his self-control when his wife told him he would never see his children again because he had lost the ability to think rationally.

Dilys Aldrich had threatened to take their sons away, her husband said

Her words went to the "heart of his being", Dr Joseph said.

Mr Aldrich admits killing his wife but denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

He told the court he was provoked by his wife's insults and threats that she would take away their sons who were born after IVF treatment.

Mrs Aldrich, 33, died on 17 March 2002.

Her husband admitted in court he had strangled her and that once he realised what he had done he drove his three sons to his parents' home in Maresfield, East Sussex, leaving his wife's body where it lay.

He said that when he got to their house he confessed to his parents what he had done.

Mr Aldrich told the court he did not call the emergency services before leaving the scene of the strangling because he did not want his sons, who are now aged four, to see him being arrested.

The trial continues.