Mercy killing was kept secret

Douglas Graham, 43, a civil servant, of Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, smothered his father with a pillow in a mercy killing then kept his action a secret for 14 years, Newcastle Crown Court was told yesterday. Graham told police he suffocated his invalid father Henry, 75, with a pillow in the middle of the night.

He had denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Sedley gave him three years' probation.