Winchester, England – A former mayor of Winchester has been acquitted of the accusation of attempting to murder his terminally ill mother, Margaret McLean. The case, which took place in Waltham Chase, Hampshire, was dismissed due to insufficient evidence for the jury to reach a verdict, according to Judge Mrs. Justice McGowan at Winchester Crown Court.
David McLean, the 72-year-old defendant, was charged with allegedly smothering his 92-year-old mother with a cushion on October 7, 2022, as she was undergoing end-of-life care. Prosecutors claimed that McLean committed the act because he could not bear to witness his mother’s suffering. During the trial, McLean admitted to pressing a pillow over his mother’s face, stating “I’m sorry mum,” as she struggled to breathe.
Body-worn video footage from a firearms officer, who responded to McLean’s call to NHS 111 reporting the incident, was presented in court. The video showed McLean confirming his identity and stating that his mother was deceased, leading to his arrest.
After hearing all the evidence, including testimony from the prosecution’s psychiatrist, Mrs. Justice McGowan concluded that there was not enough proof to support the charge. The judge emphasized that the ongoing debate in the House of Commons regarding assisted dying and assisted suicide was unrelated to the case.
Recently, a petition advocating for a discussion on assisted dying, supported by journalist and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, gathered over 200,000 signatures. Members of Parliament convened in Westminster Hall on April 29 to engage in a debate about assisted dying, sharing their viewpoints on the topic’s legalization.
McLean, who previously held the position of mayor of Winchester from 2017 to 2018, has been freed of the allegations following the court’s decision. The case shed light on the complex and sensitive issues surrounding end-of-life care and the ongoing discussions on assisted dying legislation.