A jury will be asked to decide if a man killed a woman who was found dead in Spalding after a judge ruled he was unfit to face a criminal trial.
Brian Simpson, 64, was charged with the murder of Kristine Sparane, 37, after her body was discovered at her home in Winsover Road, Spalding, on 26 November last year.
Mr Simpson, of Nene Court, Spalding, had been due to stand trial at Lincoln Crown Court earlier this year.
But Judge Simon Hirst today (Monday) ruled that Simpson was unable to participate in a criminal trial after psychiatrists for the prosecution and defence agreed he was unfit to enter a plea because of his mental health difficulties.
A trial of the facts is now taking place without Mr Simpson’s attendance to decide if he was responsible for causing Ms Sparane’s death.
The hearing is expected to last up to four days.
A trial of facts – also known as a finding of fact – takes the place of a criminal trial.
It will be a public hearing to determine whether Mr Simpson committed the act of killing Ms Sparane.
Judge Hirst told the jury: “Through no fault of his own Mr Simpson is unfit to stand trial. He has mental difficulties.”
The hearing continues.
