N.S. senior killed ailing wife after promising to help her take her own life, court hears

Douglas Smith, 75, was sentenced Tuesday for killing his wife in their home four years ago after she had asked for help taking her own life, according to court documents.

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.

Douglas Smith, 75, has been senteced to six years in prison for the death of his wife Iris Dodd in their home in Kingsport, N.S. on April 30, 2022. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)

WARNING: This story includes references to suicide and details a killing.

A 75-year-old man smothered his ailing wife in their Kingsport, N.S., home more than four years ago after she made him promise to help her take her own life, a court was told Tuesday.

Douglas Smith was sentenced in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Kentville, N.S., to six years in prison for the death of Iris Dodd, 72, on April 30, 2022. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in April days before he was set to stand trial for second-degree murder.

Smith and Dodd, who had serious health issues, had been married for 33 years but faced eviction and had nowhere to go, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Court documents illustrate a harrowing situation the couple, who had a "long, supportive and happy life together," found themselves in that night.

Copyright for this text belongs to CBC.