A woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to harm her elderly mother at a hospital by using pillows and a knife. Susan Hardwick, 65, was heard by medical staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary expressing her desire to harm her mother, Joan Hardwick, 89, as they intervened to prevent the incident. Joan, who was being readied for discharge to a care home, was reported to be in good health and not at risk of imminent death post the incident.
During the court proceedings, Susan, who has physical and mental health challenges, admitted to the attempted murder charge. The judge acknowledged Susan’s complex circumstances, noting her potential misunderstanding of the situation and the absence of any other apparent motive for her actions. He suggested that Susan may have believed she was acting out of mercy due to concerns about her mother’s care.
The incident occurred while Joan was being prepared for release from the hospital after a three-week stay following treatment for a stroke. Hospital staff were alerted by a disturbance and found Susan forcefully pressing pillows on her mother’s face before exclaiming her intent to kill. Subsequently, Joan revealed the attack to the staff, mentioning that Susan had tried to end her life.
After the incident, superficial wounds were observed on Joan’s body, and an unauthorized knife was discovered nearby. Susan, upon the arrival of hospital security, expressed her desire to be taken away, stating that her mother wanted to die due to her perceived lack of quality of life. Contradicting this, Joan was described as being well for her age and not in critical condition.
Susan’s defense highlighted her lifelong dependency on her mother due to her cerebral palsy and other health issues, emphasizing their close relationship and isolated lifestyle. The defense questioned Susan’s motives, focusing on whether she genuinely believed she was acting out of compassion.