A man who killed a Spalding mother in her own home will not be sentenced until next year after he was moved to a secure hospital for a psychiatric assessment.
Kristine Sparane, 37, was found by police lying on a bed and covered in blood at her flat in Winsover Road, Spalding, on November 26 last year.
The supermarket worker had suffered a number of blunt force injuries to her head and a severe skull fracture.
Brian Simpson, 64, was initially charged with murder but a trial of facts was held in May after he was deemed unfit to face a criminal trial due to his mental health.
A judge will now have to decide if Simpson will be detained in a secure mental hospital for an indefinite period.
Before that can take place Simpson will have to be assessed by two psychiatrists, a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was told today (Monday, November 3).
Andrew Vout KC, defending, told the hearing it was anticipated that the first report on Simpson would take up to 12 weeks.
Judge Simon Hirst adjourned the case for a further hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on January 20, 2026.
The trial of facts was to determine whether Simpson killed Ms Sparane but could not result in a criminal conviction.
After hearing evidence from witnesses, including Home Office pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton, who carried out the post-mortem examination, as well as a police officer who attended the incident, the jury decided Simpson was responsible for her death.
Dr Hamilton explained the 37-year-old victim had suffered a number of lacerations to her head consistent with blunt force rather than a bladed object.
“It would have to be least four heavy blows, most likely more,” he said.
One of the blows caused a severe multiple fracture to Ms Sparane’s skull which was more typical of a person being involved in a road traffic collision or falling from height, he told the jury.
“This level of injury is rare, it is not something I see very often in the context of an assault,” the pathologist added.
Dr Hamilton also agreed the injuries were consistent with Ms Sparane’s head being shut in a door.
Blue specks of paint found on her skull were also consistent with a large pepper mill recovered during the investigation, the court heard.
“It was entirely consistent with it (the pepper mill) being used to strike the head,” the pathologist said.
Bruising on her hands suggested she had been trying to defend herself, Dr Hamilton added.
The court was told Simpson used a mobility scooter but was also seen walking and there were no disability aids in Ms Sparane’s home.
Ms Sparane had previously told a friend that Simpson would “come to cuddle and kiss her”, which was not welcomed.
A friend described Ms Sparane as “naive around men”, adding that although Simpson used a mobility scooter she had seen him standing and walking.
Other colleagues said Ms Sparane had described him as a “nuisance” and she was happy because he had been due to leave.
Jurors heard that police found Simpson lying face-down on a bedroom floor wearing only his trousers and next to a blood-coated kitchen knife.
An uninjured, young child was also present in the room.
Officers initially believed Simpson, of Nene Court, Spalding, was dead but he was later heard making comments including, “they’re coming to kill me”, before being taken to hospital.
The court heard he had a small stab wound near his abdomen which did not require surgery and could have been self-inflicted.
