Donald Morley admits murdering his 92-year-old wife, Jean

A 92-year-old has formally admitted murdering his wife of 70 years, Jean Morley.

Donald Morley had already indicated he would plead guilty to killing his 92-year-old dementia-suffering wife.

It has previously been alleged that he suffocated her, then tried to end his own life.

A thin man with glasses and bandages wrapped around his head, he appeared in the ACT Supreme Court over audio-visual link on Friday (1 December) and was asked how he would plead to a charge of murdering Jean on 30 July 2023.

“Guilty,” he replied.

His lawyer, Legal Aid’s Nathan Deakes, had earlier asked for him to be seated during the proceedings due to his “frailties” and confirmed there was no fitness to plead issue.

He also said there were no agreed facts for the case at this stage.

Justice David Mossop ordered a pre-sentence report. The matter will return to court in December to begin organising a sentencing date.

The court has heard that Donald is being held in the Older Persons Mental Health Unit at the Canberra Hospital.

He has been in custody since his arrest.

While there are currently no agreed facts, in the original court documents for the case, police said that due to Jean’s dementia, she had difficulty remembering words or performing tasks, while her husband had skin cancers and a history of heart attacks.

When a nurse arrived at their home in Fisher at about 2:30 pm on 31 July, it’s alleged Donald appeared to be “sunken and quiet” as he let her inside.

The nurse noticed two handwritten notes on the dining table, one of which allegedly referred to suicide and forgiveness.

After asking Donald about the notes and why he hadn’t answered the phone when she called earlier, it’s alleged he replied he had gone out in the morning.

“[The nurse] told the defendant that she was there to help, and the defendant shook his head and replied, ‘I’ve done a terrible thing’,” the documents alleged.

It’s alleged Donald told the nurse he had suffocated his wife with a pillow the night before, then made multiple attempts to end his own life.

The nurse saw Jean’s body in the bedroom. Before leaving the room, Donald sat next to his wife on the bed and said, “That’s her there. My angel”.

The nurse hugged him while he cried. Police arrived just before 2:50 pm after being called by the nurse, arresting Donald a few minutes later.

The court has previously heard of complexities involved in the case.