A woman suffocated her terminally-ill father with a pillow to end his suffering from late stage terminal pancreatic cancer.
Dr Lisa Davenport, 55, appeared before a High Court judge today where she admitted to manslaughter as an alternative to the murder charge she was facing following the death of her cancer-stricken father Barrie Davenport, 88.
The academic’s guilty plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution at Oxford Crown Court.
Mr Davenport was bed bound-bound and largely unconcious in the lead up to his death in October 2022, the court heard.
He was living at Foxhall Court in Banbury, Oxfordshire and was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in August 2022.
He was expected to die a natural death from his illness imminently.
His daughter Dr Davenport suffocated him with a pillow in an act of mercy and then told a manager that she had smothered her father with a pillow, the court heard.
Prosecutor John Price told High Court Judge Mr Justice Linden: ‘At the time he died in October 2022 he was a man in late 80s who was in the advanced stages of terminal pancreatic cancer.
Dr Lisa Davenport, 55, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Oxford Crown Court
‘The foundation of the prosecution case was the defendant’s own confession to others about what she had done.
‘The evidence established that from that date until the date he died, he could not have had a more devoted carer or better familial care than was provided to him by this defendant.
‘It was in that context that she took his life.’
The court heard that the motive for what she did was to end his suffering.
Mr Davenport was in very considerable pain caused by his condition on the day he died and the palliative care, whilst up to standard, was diminishing in its effect. He had a high degree of agitation consistent with suffering, the court heard.
Mr Justice Linden heard that Dr Davenport was examined by three consultant psychiatrists.
Mr Price said: ‘Their opinions are unanimous in finding at the time of the killing, Dr Davenport was suffering abnormality of mind attributed in her case to more than one recognised medical condition.
‘There was a clear history of clinical signs and symptoms of the conditions diagnosed by doctors when they assessed her in October and November this year.’
He added there is a ‘long established pre-existing history.’
Mr Price concluded: ‘She was, at that time, unable to acknowledge what she had done. It was in that context the reports were prepared.
‘The psychiatrists were each of the opinion that it had substantially impaired her ability to act rationally and to exercise self-control and it provided an explanation for what she had done.
‘Those opinions by the doctors seemed to the professionals, to be of compelling weight.
Dr Lisa Davenport was described as a ‘loving, devoted daughter’ who cared for her father for many years
Mary Prior counsel representing Dr Davenport, said her client had no previous criminal convictions, cautions or reprimands.
She told the judge: ‘You will understand this was a loving, devoted daughter who was the primary carer for her father who had been unwell for many years but terminally ill more recently.’
The court heard the defendant was in constant contact with those providing palliative care – for which she had the burden of responsibility because her father did not want to move into a hospice.
Ms Prior said: ‘Regrettably the conditions she has suffered from for many years were not properly treated or diagnosed at the time this was going on.
‘We will characterise this at sentencing hearing as a matter of mercy.’
The case was adjourned for sentencing by High Court Judge until February 7, 2025.
The defendant, of Banbury, was released on conditional bail.