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A Black Country man bludgeoned his wife to death before killing himself over fears their home was blighted by Japanese Knotweed, an inquest heard.



Lab technician Kenneth McRae, 52, battered partner Jane, 55, with a bottle of perfume as she lay in their bed, causing fatal head injuries, at their Rowley Regis home.

In a chilling suicide note, he said he killed his wife because the balance of his mind had been ‘disturbed’ by knotweed at their Bryan Budd Close home.

He wrote: “I believe I was not an evil man, until the balance of my mind was disturbed by the fact there is a patch of Japanese Knotweed which has been growing over our boundary fence on the Rowley Regis Golf Course.”

The disturbed doctor claimed golf course managers had been made aware of the problem but nothing had been done.

After trying to curb the weed’s growth unsuccessfully, he said the risk of structural damage and legal battles “led to my growing madness”.

He added: “Jane and I were a very private couple, we chose to have no real friends, just enjoying each other.

“But the despair has got so bad that today I have killed her, as I did not want her to be alone without an income when I killed myself.”

An inquest at Smethwick Council house ruled Dr McRae unlawfully killed his wife before committing suicide.

A police investigation found she may have lain dead in bed on the second floor of the three-storey house for up to a week.

Dr McRae had been found with wrist and neck injuries on the first floor of the home.

Police had broken into the reclusive couple’s home after concerns were raised by the lab technician’s colleagues.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said it appeared Dr McRae had suffered from paranoia over the knotweed, which was NOT found on their property, although a patch of the plant had been discovered nearby.

Neighbours also later claimed the area had suffered from knotweed before homes were built on the site.

Mr Balmain said; “This is clearly a tragedy. They appeared for whatever reason to keep themselves to themselves, they were perfectly entitled to do that.

“The impression is Mr McRae was possibly becoming paranoid, there is no direct evidence of that, of course.

“He had a responsible job as a lab technician, his own home free from mortgage.

“It appears he became obsessed with Japanese Knotweed in the vicinity, which was not even on his property.

“It is perfectly clear he chose to kill his wife. It is difficult to understand what was going on in Mr McRae’s mind.

“For whatever reason he killed his wife and then himself.”

The court heard the couple were estranged from their family and had not even spoken to their adopted son for over a decade.

The family declined to comment after the hearing.

• Japanese knotweed was introduced into Britain in the 19th century as an ornamental plant.

A rapid grower - it can grow one metre in a month - the weed has become widespread across the UK and is hardy enough to grow almost anywhere, including roadsides, riverbanks and derelict buildings.

It outcompetes native plants and animals and can grow through concrete and tarmac, coming up through the resulting cracks and damaging buildings and roads.

Stem segments can remain dormant in soil for 20 years before producing new plants.

The Environmental Agency website has information about Japanese knotweed, how to prevent it spreading, how to dispose of it and legal issues with its growth.