An 82-year-old man was due to appear in court yesterday charged with murdering his wife at their north Essex home.

Leslie Parsons, of Frost Farm Cottages, Golden Lane, Thorpe, was chargedon Tuesday afternoon - two months after the death of his 87-year-old wife, Dorothy from gunshot wounds.

Parsons, who was due to appear before Colchester magistrates yesterday, also faces firearms charges.

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

They also discovered her husband 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 shared with their daughter Brenda Thompson and her husband, Roy.

The couple had moved there from Cypress Close, Clacton, about two years before.

A police spokeswoman said yesterday Parsons faced two separate firearms' charges - possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a .22 calibre revolver and ammunition without a certificate.

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