A Leeds man has admitted killing a woman at a property in a picturesque North Yorkshire village.
Shahin Darvish-Narenjbon appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Darvish-Narenjbon was originally charged with the murder of Brenda Blainey, but his guilty plea to manslaughter was accepted by the prosecution during the short hearing on Friday. Brenda died on January 5 this year at a property in High Street, Thornton-le-Dale.
The 34-year-old, formerly of Tinshill Lane, Cookridge, Leeds, will now be sentenced on January 30, next year. Nicholas Lumley, prosecuting, said reports from three medical professionals had been given to the Crown. He added that the sentencing hearing would need to be adjourned as one of them was needed in another court.
His Honour Judge Tom Bayliss KC remanded Darvish-Narenjbon into hospital under section 48 of the Mental Health Act until January 30 next year.
Residents of the village where Brenda was killed have previously paid tribute to her. The "honeypot village" is known for its picturesque scenery, thatched cottages and proximity to some of the county's finest walking routes.
A bartender in the village said: "We're just a small village so you can imagine that nothing like this has happened before." Another woman said Brenda had lived at her home in the village for "40 or more years" and she had known her that whole time.
She said: "She was lovely. She was 88 and fitter than I am. She was very private but if you met her out here she was always full of talk. She always spoke to you and always had plenty of chatter."
Bouquets of flowers were left outside the house, including one with a note saying "the angels weep" and another from the Noyon Indian restaurant saying "our thoughts are with everyone".
County councillor Janet Sanderson said at the time: "These are distressing times for our village, a village unaccustomed to anything of this nature. I have spoken to residents in the immediate vicinity who are clearly looking for reassurance rather than details at this stage.
"I feel confident that things will settle down once the crime scene has been thoroughly searched and vacated and when the Senior Investigating Officer believes they have enough evidence to make a prosecution."
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