Man Detained Indefinitely for Sister’s Fatal Hammer Attack in Devon

Richard Law, 68, was detained indefinitely after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his 70-year-old sister, Judith Law, whom he attacked with a hammer at their shared home in Newton Poppleford, Devon. The siblings, described as reclusive and living separate lives despite sharing a house, were reported to be in a 'spiral of mental decline' with mounting stress and depression, exacerbated by previous flood damage to their home. On January 17, Law called emergency services confessing to the killing and expressing that both he and his sister had wanted to die, indicating a buildup of tension since Christmas without any major argument. Judith suffered catastrophic head injuries from at least six blows, and the court heard there was no prior history of violence between them. Law was sentenced to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, with a restriction order allowing for indefinite detention. The case highlights the tragic consequences of untreated mental health issues and strained family relationships in reclusive individuals.