A woman has pleaded guilty to deliberately smothering her 88-year-old father in an "act of mercy".

Lisa Davenport, 55, of Washle Drive, Middleton Cheney, smothered Barrie Davenport at his home in Foxhall Court in School Lane, Banbury, on October 17 2022.

Davenport pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to murder at a hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, November 21. 

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Sitting in the dock, the 55-year-old cried during the hearing. 

The court heard that Mr Davenport had been suffering from terminal cancer and that his daughter was his primary carer. 

John Price KC, prosecuting, told the court the prosecution was satisfied with the plea.

He said: “At the time he died, he was a man in his late 80s in the advanced stages of terminal pancreatic cancer. He was bedbound and usually unconscious. 

"He was expected to die from natural causes imminently. The defendant confessed to two people that she had smothered him with a pillow.

"The evidence emphasises that he could not have had a more devoted carer than his daughter."

Mr Price KC added: “In this context, she took his life. On the day he died, he was in considerable pain. 

“Her motive was to end his suffering as his palliative care was having little impact. 

“It's a most serious matter for one person to take the life of another.”

The court heard that Davenport had been assessed by a number of psychiatrists. 

The prosecuting barrister added: "Their opinions are unanimous in saying that at the time, she was suffering from an abnormality of mind. 

"There was a long established clinical history. This impacted her ability to act rationally and provided an explanation to what she had done."

Mary Prior KC, defending, asked if the court could adjourn for sentencing to take place in the new year. 

She said: “She has no criminal convictions.

"This was a loving, devoted daughter who was the primary carer for her father who had been unwell for many years, but terminally ill more recently. 

“She bore the brunt of his palliative care. We will characterise this at sentencing as a mercy killing.”

She was found not guilty of a separate charge of attempted murder last year after prosecutors offered no evidence.

The case had been listed as a four to five week trial until Davenport changed her plea. 

Opening Mr Davenport’s inquest in 2022, senior coroner Darren Salter said a cause of the octogenarian’s death was yet to be established.

An initial post-mortem had been carried out, but his cause of death "remained under investigation".

Davenport was released on conditional bail.

She will be sentenced on February 7 next year. 

Senior investigation officer detective inspector Alice Broad, of the Major Crime Unit, said: “This gulity plea from Lisa Davenport brings this complex investigation to a conclusion, and my thoughts remain with the family of Barrie Davenport.

“This conviction demonstrates the dedication of our officers and staff in putting offenders before the courts.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby