Briton held over 'suicide pact'

Ms Allison called to police to her flat

A 65-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of killing her sick daughter in a suicide pact in Italy.

Margaret Pringle Allison was held after the death of her 24-year-old daughter Emilia.

Police said Ms Allison planned to shoot herself after killing her daughter, who was suffering worsening pain from the parasitic condition toxoplasmosis.

The two had made a pact to kill themselves, but Ms Allison was unable to turn the gun on herself and alerted police to the flat in Alta Mura, near Bari in southern Italy.

The pensioner is due in court in Bari over the alleged killing.

An Italian police spokeswoman said: "A call was received from the woman to say she had shot her daughter and we discovered her dead body at the flat.

I have never had to deal with such a tragic case as this before in my career Giuseppe Scelsi Investigating magistrate

"The woman told us they had decided to commit suicide together and that the daughter had shot herself but had survived and not been instantly killed.

"She then gave the handgun to her mother and asked her to shoot her again which she did and then she was supposed to shoot herself, but instead called police.

"The woman said to us: 'My daughter was the first to fire and I, after seeing her in agony on the floor, took the gun and finished her off. But I didn't have the courage to shoot myself'."

Emilia, born in Scotland, developed the condition while on holiday in Edinburgh five years ago, and had tried to poison herself two years ago, neighbours said.

People can be affected by toxoplasmosis if they accidentally swallow infective eggs from soil or other contaminated surfaces.

This can happen by putting touching one's mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or by touching anything that has come into contact with cat faeces.

The condition can cause aching muscles and swollen lymph glands and in extreme cases, damage to the brain and eyes.

After Ms Allison, who moved to Italy several years ago after marrying a flour mill owner, called police to the flat, a search revealed suicide notes written by the pair.

Investigating magistrate Giuseppe Scelsi said: "I have never had to deal with such a tragic case as this before in my career.

"The woman is in custody facing a murder charge and now it is up to the law to decide what will happen."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of an incident in Alta Mura near Bari involving a British national who has been detained by Italian police.

"We are in contact with the authorities and if the reports are confirmed we will provide normal consular assistance."