A man is being made to answer for his deeds after he killed his scientist girlfriend in a most brutal manner that saw him severing her head from the rest of her body.
Timothy Allen
A man, Timothy Allen, has admitted beheading his girlfriend, Samantha Ho, and leaving the severed head next to her dead pet collie, Mirror Online reports.
Talented scientist Ms Ho, 39, was killed on August 29 after suffering multiple cuts to her neck which saw it dismembered from her body.
She had made a desperate 999 call from her home in Cambridgeshire but armed police arrived too late. Her seriously injured partner, Timothy Allen, 40, was taken to hospital and later arrested on suspicion of murder.
Today Allen pleaded guilty to killing Ms Ho after the Crown accepted his plea to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.
Appearing via video link at the Old Bailey from Wymondham police station, the court heard Allen lived with his partner at 17 Curfew Place, St Neots.
As he was arraigned this morning to the charge of murder, Allen responded: "Not guilty but guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility."
Bespectacled Allen, wearing a grey fleece, kept his arms folded on the table and looked looked towards the ground as he entered his plea.
Andrew Jackson, for Allen, said: "The likelihood of that plea was communicated to the Crown a couple of weeks ago. I will explain why that is an acceptable plea when this matter comes up next in court."
Samantha Ho
At the time of the killing, neighbours in the couple's quiet cul-de-sac spoke of their horror over Ms Ho's death.
Ian Warsfold, 49, said: "Sam was lovely, they were a lovely couple - they used to join in with all the community events and social evenings.
"Her death is absolutely shocking, we're all distraught. Sam loved that dog and she and Tim used to walk it a lot - sometimes my son went out with them."
Samantha and Allen moved into their semi-detached home in St Neots two years ago. She has worked for bio-science company Asterand for the last decade.
Allen is believed to work at medical company Asthma Trak.
Sentencing was adjourned and will either take place in Cambridgeshire or Southwark Crown Court.
Addressing Allen, the Judge, Mrs Justice McGowan said: "Your case can't be dealt with today because we need to hear from some of the doctors. But it will be dealt with on the March 17."