Pensioner murdered his partner of 40 years with a hammer after she nagged him to straighten their duvet

A RETIRED scientist aged 74 was jailed for life yesterday for bludgeoning his partner to death when she “nagged” him to straighten their duvet.

Edgar Fairhurst grabbed a lump hammer and smashed the mum aged 83 around the head in the middle of the night.

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He then called 999 and said: “She was goading me. I beat her to a pulp.”

The ex-research chemist, of Bideford, Devon, was convicted of murder at Exeter crown court.

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He had denied it but admitted manslaughter with diminished responsibility.

Judge Mr Justice Teare jailed him for life, ordering that he serve at least 20 years.

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He said Marjorie Elphick, the pensioner’s partner for 40 years, had been “defenceless”.

Marjorie’s family yesterday described her as “kind and vivacious”.

They said: “Her life has been cruelly cut short.”

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