Upper Barron Man Anthony Nigel Smyth granted bail after allegedly aiding in wife’s suicide
An elderly man who police allege aided in his wife’s suicide at a rural Far North home has made a bid for bail in a Cairns court.
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UPDATE, 4PM: A 76-year-old man who police allege aided in his wife’s suicide at a rural Far North home has made a bid for bail, with voluntary admission into Cairns Mental Health Unit.
Anthony Nigel Smyth appeared by video link from Cairns watch house before Magistrate Terry Browne on Tuesday.
Smyth was charged with one count of aiding suicide, a domestic violence offence.
Defence lawyer Jacqueline O’Reilly said Smyth had an unblemished record.
“These circumstances he finds himself in can only be described as tragic, he has a small family who are supporting him,” she said.
“He has no family in Cairns. All are on standby and ready to travel to Cairns and make arrangements.
“He instructs me he is not suicidal now and the plan obviously didn’t work out the way they thought. He is of course grieving.”
Magistrate Terry Browne said while the report stated he was not suffering from acute mental illness, the admission into the mental health unit would assess the condition.
“The circumstances the prosecution has alleged are tragic. They have alleged you played a part with the successful suicide of your wife,” he said.
Magistrate Browne said the prosecutor was not concerned Smyth would commit another offence but he may be at risk to himself.
He granted Smyth bail on the arrangement he lives at the mental health unit then another address with one of his family members after agreement by police prosecutors.
The matter will be mentioned on October 2.
EARLIER, 1.30PM: AN elderly man has been charged with aiding in a suicide at a rural Far North home on Sunday and is set to appear in court this afternoon.
On July 24, a 74-year-old woman was found unresponsive at an Upper Barron home by police and emergency services where her death was labelled suspicious.
A 76-year-old man, who was alleged to have assisted in the death, was also found at the address suffering from injuries.
He was taken to Atherton Hospital and then Cairns Hospital where he was treated and later discharged.
The incident was being investigated by the Tablelands Criminal Investigation Branch.
The 76-year-old man, who is in custody, was expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
More to come.
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