A British pensioner has been remanded in a prison psychiatric war while police investigate the fatal stabbing of his wife.
David Cadwallader, 80, was ordered to the unit at a closed hearing that took place in a Costa del Sol court Monday, three days after the attack at an apartment building in the resort town on Benalmadena on Friday night.
Wife Lesley, 69, was stabbed up to 20 times including in the neck and managed to call police before the phone cut off. Officers arrived to find her body on the kitchen floor while David was lying on their bed.
The elderly man is thought to have Alzheimer’s, though investigators have not confirmed this. Officers have said they are looking into his mental state.
David Cadwallader, 80, has been remanded to a prison psychiatric unit while police investigate the murder of his wife Lesley inside this apartment on Friday night
Lesley was found stabbed more than 20 times inside this apartment block, having managed to call police around 10.30pm to say she had been attacked
Police had to call firefighters to access the property after receiving the emergency call around 10.30pm on Friday.
The suspected weapon, a kitchen knife, is believed to have been seized at the scene.
A court official said after today’s hearing: ‘Torremolinos Court of Instruction Number 3, which is qualified to deal with domestic violence cases, has agreed to remand in prison the man arrested over the death of his wife at their home in Benalmadena.
‘The suspect is British as was his wife. At the request of state prosecutors he will enter a psychiatric unit at the prison he ends up in.
‘For the time being he is being investigated on suspicion of a crime of homicide although during the ongoing investigation that could change.’
Mr Cadwallader was seen by a forensic doctor after being taken to court by police, who said at the weekend he had been arrested three times in the last few months for alleged domestic violence.
However, he was released because his wife decided against pressing charges.
A well-placed judicial source, backing an official police statement about the arrests on Saturday, added: ‘We can confirm the victim declined to ratify in court previous complaints she had made regarding allegations of domestic violence which had led to the husband’s arrest.
‘Because there were no witnesses and the alleged victim didn’t want to press charges, the court had to shelve the cases.
The front door of the couple’s £130,000 first-floor flat was sealed with police tape after the horror stabbing with a warning sign that said ‘Do not enter.’
The doorframe was badly-damaged in a clear sign officers responding to the emergency call from the stab victim had tried to force entry.
David is thought to suffer from Alzheimer’s and police have said they are looking into his mental state – though have not confirmed any illnesses
Neighbours today recalled the dramatic moment police arrived at the scene, as they tried in vain to kick the front door down before making their way in through a back entrance
A neighbour of the couple’s in the 12-storey 1970s apartment block, which used to be an apart-hotel, confirmed police had made a failed attempt to smash it down before gaining access via another entry at the back.
He added: ‘They’ve lived here for ages, probably around 30 years.
‘I’d heard they were both heavy drinkers and police have been around before to deal with what I presume were domestic disputes.
‘A lot of foreigners live in this block and I know they used to help new-arrivals find their feet here.
‘I never saw any younger people visiting that might have been relatives and I was told they had already decided to donate their flat to an animal sanctuary when they died.’
Another neighbour said: ‘I didn’t hear any shouting or arguing before the police arrived.
‘They tried to smash the door down but couldn’t get through it and ended up getting in via an entrance round the back.
‘It’s so horrific that it’s ended in this way.’
Under Spanish law Mr Cadwallader’s status is currently that of an ‘investigado’ which literally means ‘investigated.’
He has not yet been formally charged with any crime as charges are not laid in Spain until shortly before trial.
It is not yet clear whether he will be held criminally responsible for his actions and made to stand trial if the ongoing investigation determines his mental capacities are affected by his apparent Alzheimer’s.
A Spanish police spokesman said after his arrest: ‘It would appear he has a psychological illness with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.’