A MAN has been jailed for stabbing his girlfriend in the chest at his home in Crowthorne.
Michael Rough, 55, admitted killing his partner Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Pattenden on Sunday, October 2 last year at his address in Ellis Road.
He denied murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
Shortly before 11.30pm on October 2, police received a call from Rough stating that he had stabbed his girlfriend, that she had died and he was going to kill himself.
Officers attended the property and were let in by Rough. They went upstairs and found Ms Pattenden unresponsive in a bedroom, where she died a short time later.
A post-mortem determined that she died from a stab wound to the chest.
Mr Rough sustained self-inflicted injuries and was arrested at the scene. He was charged with murder on October 11. However, the prosecution accepted a guilty plea to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Ailsa Kent, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime unit, said: “Michael Rough and Jackie had been involved in a relationship since the beginning of the year which appeared to those who knew them to be happy with no suggestion of violence or arguments between them. However after reporting feeling depressed and stressed over work, on the evening of 2 October Rough stabbed and killed his partner Jackie.
“I hope today’s sentencing will enable those who knew and loved Jackie to have a sense of closure and be able to move on from this utterly tragic time in their lives.”
Claire Beards, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “Mr Rough pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Manslaughter by diminished responsibility is a partial defence to murder, which is only established if there is medical evidence that a defendant was suffering from an abnormality of mind that substantially impaired their responsibility for their actions.
“When Mr Rough indicated a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, we instructed an eminent psychiatrist to fully assess him. Only when he too reached the conclusion that Mr Rough was suffering from a mental health condition, that would have substantially reduced his responsibility, did the prosecution team accept the plea offered.
“This case represents a tragedy for Jackie’s family and friends, who have been devastated by her death. We know that nothing will bring Jackie back to her family and friends, but we hope that the conviction and today’s sentence brings them at least a small sense that justice has been done. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time.”
Sentencing Rough at Reading Crown Court today (Tuesday) Judge John Reddihough said: “What took place was an utter tragedy, and no sentence imposed by this court will change the outcome for Ms Pattenden’s friends and family, who have shown such dignity throughout these proceedings.”
Michael Rough was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with a three year extended licence upon his release.
