In short:
Donald Morley, 94, has died in palliative care, months after being sentenced for the murder of his wife Jean.
Morley was serving a nine-year jail sentence after suffocating his wife in their home in July 2023.
What’s next?
Police will submit a report to the coroner.
Canberra’s oldest killer has been found dead at a palliative care home, nearly three months after being sentenced for the murder of his wife of 69 years.
Police confirmed the body of 94-year-old Donald Morley was found at Clare Holland House in Barton on Friday.
ACT Policing says there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
Morley was serving a nine-year term of imprisonment after he suffocated his wife Jean in their Fisher home in July 2023.
During his proceedings, the ACT Supreme Court heard both Morley and his wife had been suffering declining health around the time of the murder, and after an outing, Morley suffocated his wife and attempted to end his own life.
Morley pleaded guilty to the crime, but during sentencing, his lawyer argued it was a “mercy killing” based on the “uncertain future” the couple faced from declining health and aging.
This was disputed by the prosecution, who labelled the murder a “serious example of domestic violence”.
Morley was sentenced in April to nine years in jail, which Justice Mossop acknowledged would “effectively be a life sentence” based on Morley’s terminal cancer.
The court heard at the time it was estimated Morley had been three and six months to live.
ACT Policing says he was transferred to a medical facility in April as he was suffering terminal cancer.
Morley was believed to be the oldest person charged with murder in the ACT.
Police say they will submit a report to the coroner about Morley’s death.