Pensioner admits stabbing and beating his wife to death with a rolling pin

A pensioner has admitted stabbing and beating his wife to death with a rolling pin.

Zhizhang Shan, 74, from Woolwich, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with the murder of Shuren Ma, 73, on July 1 last year.

During the hearing, he denied the charge but admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC indicated the plea was accepted by the Crown.

The court heard an expert had found the defendant was suffering from a serious depressive illness with paranoid features at the time of the killing.Judge Richard Marks QC adjourned sentencing until December 6.

The Chinese defendant, who bowed repeatedly to the court, was assisted by a Mandarin interpreter.

The 74-year-old indicated his hearing aid had run out of battery so the interpreter also wrote down what was said before he was remanded into a secure hospital.