An 82-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murdering his wife.

Leslie Parsons, of Frost Farm Cottages, Golden Lane, Thorpe-le-Soken, was charged on Tuesday - two months after the death of his 87-year-old wife Dorothy from gunshot wounds on January 8.

Walking to the dock with aid of a stick on Wednesday, white-haired Parsons was remanded in custody by Colchester magistrates until later this month.

He spoke only to confirm his name and age and stared straight ahead as the charges - of murder, posessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm without a certficate and possessing ammunition without an appropriate certificate - were read out.

Mrs Parsons's body was found after police were called to the quiet village on the morning of January 9.

They also discovered Parsons had been shot but was still alive.

He was airlifted by the Essex Air Ambulance to Oldchurch Hospital in London and was treated for gunshot wounds.

A .22 pistol was found at the house, which the couple who had been married for 67 years shared with their daughter Brenda Thompson and her husband, Roy.

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