An elderly Isle of Wight woman who stabbed her husband in the chest while he slept told police “the devil told me to do it”, a court has heard.
The case against 81-year-old Linda Smith was heard at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Tuesday), where jurors were given details about how Smith attacked her husband of 60 years at the couple’s home in Newport, in the early hours of 15th January 2025.
Smith had originally been charged with attempted murder, but prosecutors proceeded on a revised charge of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
However, Linda Smith was deemed unfit to plead following an assessment by 2 consultant psychiatrists. Therefore, the jury was determining today whether the 81-year-old did the act of which she is accused, or was not guilty.
The court heard how emergency services were called to the family home on Manor Crescent at around 02:30 in the morning after the couple’s son dialled 999 to report that his mother had stabbed his father.
When officers arrived, they discovered the victim, Mr Terrance Smith, holding his chest after suffering a stab wound measuring around 3cm in length to the front right side of his chest. The injury was described as relatively minor and superficial in nature.
Mr Smith, who chose not to give evidence against his wife, had been asleep on his back when he was suddenly awoken by his wife standing over him saying, “I’m going to kill you”.
Linda Smith then plunged a large 33cm kitchen knife into his chest before Mr Smith managed to wrestle the weapon away and kick it aside. The knife was later recovered from a washing-up bowl in the kitchen.
Police responded to the scene, where Smith told officers:
“I stabbed him.”
“The devil told me to do it. He is in control of me now”.
“I have to kill as many people as I can and then I’ll be safe.
“You’ve heard of satan, zombies, its all true.
Smith also made a number of delusional remarks relating to Satan and voices in her head. The court heard that the 81-year-old would spend most of the day and night praying to get rid of the devil.
In July 2024, Linda was reported missing after travelling to London for a religious gathering without informing her family.
After a short hearing and deliberating for only around 30 minutes, the jury returned a verdict that Smith did the act, namely wounding Terrance Smith with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Judge Bowes KC said updated psychiatric reports would now be prepared ahead of sentencing on Friday 17th July.
The judge has praised the actions of the responding police officers, describing their conduct at the scene as ‘exemplary’.
This is what religion does to you.
what an absolutely bias, ignorant and pathetic remark
In what way? The ridiculous belief in a magic sky wizard causes more misery in the world than anything else. That is FACT.
So true! When you hear the rantings of some religion followers, brainwashed from birth, living in the 7th century, hate women, dogs, gays, Christians, atheists, Jews and western civilisation. Openly stating their goal to kill anyone, the more brutal the better, who doesnt follow their own barbaric God.
Religion has and will always be top ranking for murder and genocide.
but probably has a lot of truth in it !
Too sad
Yep she’s nuts..used to have homes for these but we shut them down.
She hardly ‘PLUNGED’ the knife into him if it was a minor and superficial wound. Why does the Island Echo have to use these hyperbolized description in their ‘reporting’?
Absolutely Debby, I reckon a 10 year old could write a better report.
But describing it as gently pricking the skin with a sharp bladed implement hardly does it justice !
Clearly a troubled lady. I hope she can be helped in her final years.