Manfred Uhle pleads not guilty to murder of wife Wanda Dorothy Uhle in Gordon, ACT

An 86-year-old alleged murderer’s lawyer has told a court she has begun contacting “various experts” to assess the man’s mental capacity.

A townhouse in Togo Place, in the ACT suburb of Gordon, where Manfred Uhle allegedly murdered his wife. Picture: Blake Foden

An elderly alleged killer’s lawyer has raised concerns about his fitness to plead, telling a court she has begun contacting “various experts” to assess the man’s mental capacity.

Manfred Uhle, 86, was not required to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, when defence lawyer Ellie Wallis entered a not guilty plea to a murder charge on his behalf.

Ms Wallis indicated she was entering the plea because doing so would trigger the service of a brief of evidence, which may include relevant material she could provide to the experts.

Special magistrate Sean Richter recorded the plea and remanded Mr Uhle in custody until the case returns to court in September.

Mr Uhle was arrested on June 2 at the south Canberra home of one of his granddaughters, having allegedly turned up at her door with blood on his face, hands and feet.

The home where Manfred Uhle allegedly murdered his wife, Wanda Dorothy Uhle. Picture: Blake Foden

The 86-year-old allegedly announced that “nan is at peace”, prompting a call to police.

When officers attended Mr Uhle’s nearby townhouse, in the suburb of Gordon, they found the naked body of his wife, Wanda Dorothy Uhle, 78, under a blanket in the foetal position.

The street sign at the entrance to Togo Place, where the Uhles lived. Picture: Blake Foden

Court documents state Mrs Uhle’s interim cause of death was determined to be severe blood loss from stab wounds, which police allege were inflicted by her partner of about 60 years.

Mr Uhle was initially detained at Canberra Hospital for a mental health assessment last month, when chief magistrate Lorraine Walker said material before the court indicated he had previously been hospitalised because of “some delusional behaviour or thoughts”.

However, the court subsequently heard the initial assessment had determined Mr Uhle was not suffering from a mental illness, and he was remanded in custody after not applying for bail.