British man, 80, died in hospital while facing investigation over wife’s murder
A British man who was facing a murder charge over the alleged frenzied stabbing of his wife has died.
David Cadwallader, 80, passed away less than a month after being remanded in custody following the brutal killing of his wife Lesley, 69.
Police rushed to a property in the resort town of Benalmadena in Malaga when the woman, believed to be his wife, rang the emergency services to say he was attacking her.
By the time they arrived, she was lying dead in the kitchen diner with more than 20 knife wounds.
Her husband, who was thought to have Alzheimer’s, was discovered lying on a bed at their beachfront apartment and was arrested by police.
A judge decided to send him to prison while he continued to investigate him over the November 4 killing, although officials confirmed at the time he had been transferred to a specialist psychiatric wing.
Yesterday it was confirmed Mr Cadwallader had died at the start of December.
Sources said a court was still waiting for his pauper’s funeral to be approved before terminating plans to try him if he had been deemed fit for prosecution.
Although he had officially been placed under investigation he was yet to be formally charged with any crime when he died.
A court official said: ‘The British man arrested over the violent death of his wife last November at their home in Torremolinos died on December 2.
‘As he didn’t have sufficient financial resources, the court is waiting on the approval of his local council-paid funeral.
‘After that happens the case against him will be stayed.’
The cause of Mr Cadwallader’s death has not been made public, although there is nothing to suggest there was anything suspicious about it.
The hospital where he passed away has not been named but is believed to be in Malaga near where he lived.
Detectives revealed after Mr Cadwallader’s arrest he had been held three times prior to the night of the stabbing for alleged domestic violence, but was released on each occasion because his wife decided against pressing charges.
Police said in statements at the time: ‘A man aged 80 allegedly killed his wife aged 69.
‘The victim received several stab wounds with a bladed weapon. The suspected killer has been arrested.
‘It would appear he has a psychological illness with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
‘In the last few months the suspected killer had been arrested three times for domestic violence.
‘According to the police reports he had been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s.
‘His wife decided not to ratify her complaints in court and the cases were archived. She never asked for any protective measures.’
Mr Cadwallader was sent to prison on November 7 last year after appearing before a judge in a closed court hearing following three nights in a police cell.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.