Family Solicitors

A retired army officer has appeared in court charged with the murder of his wife, who was stabbed in the chest in a domestic incident on Friday (18/04/14).

Paramedics were called to the home of Leonard Webb, 68 and his wife Doreen, 64, where they found Mrs Webb with a stab wound to her chest. Despite efforts to save her, Mrs Webb was pronounced dead at their home in the village of Durrington in Wiltshire.

Paramedics performed resuscitation on Mrs Webb but a knife was recovered at the scene of the incident.

The couple had been married for more than 40 years but it is reported that in recent months Mr Webb had been suffering from depression and mood swings.

In social media posts he charted the decline in his mood and said he was feeling “not too grand” just two weeks ago. Other posts on social media sites revealed he was feeling “unsympathetic, unkind, tardy, bad tempered and lazy”.

Mr Webb worked on his own market stall in Devizes, selling knives and military memorabilia. He was a junior gunner in the Royal Artillery from 1962 and rose through the ranks to serve in Northern Ireland and the first Gulf War. He retired as a colonel after serving for 30 years in the British Army.

Webb was remanded in custody after appearing at Chippenham Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

The couple were thought to be happy and neighbours have expressed their shock at Mrs Webb’s death at the hands of her husband. The couple recently visited Cyprus on holiday and have three sons and six grandchildren.

Social media posts signposted Webb’s growing discontent and he had recently posted online that he was going to recommence smoking to try and improve his mood:

“Before I lose all my family, it is better to take this action and be happy and enjoy life.”

The family home has now been cordoned off with police officers standing guard. Mrs Webb’s body was taken by ambulance to Salisbury General Hospital or a post mortem by a Home Office pathologist.

A neighbour reported seeing a huge police presence round the couple’s home when he returned to his own house on Good Friday ? and neighbours saw Webb escorted from the property in handcuffs.

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of domestic violence solicitors and can advise women and men suffering domestic abuse or those at risk of suffering domestic abuse.

Duncan Lewis domestic violence solicitors are able to advise on family law including domestic violence and child abuse under both UK law and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on domestic violence and child abuse, contact the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Emergency Helpline on 07920 077054.