Long Sutton woman (57) jailed for shooting husband at Whaplode nursery

A Long Sutton woman who “catastrophically” injured her husband when she fired his shotgun was jailed for two years on Tuesday.(April 18)

Mary Jane Taylor (57) left Alan Taylor (58) with a “useless” left arm when she discharged two shots from the weapon, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
The court was told that Mrs Taylor could not remember what happened after she picked up the shotgun and had no intention of causing serious injury to her husband.The couple, who run a garden centre together in South Lincolnshre, were visiting a plant nursery in Whaplode when two shots were fired from the weapon.

Jon Dee, prosecuting, said exactly what happened may never be known.
He told the court: “At around 10am Mrs Taylor was in possession of her husband’s shotgun.
“She pressed the trigger, two shots were fired. The first shot hit the roof, but the second hit her husband’s left elbow.”

Mrs Taylor made two calls from the scene to the ambulance service and her adult son.
“In both she said she had grabbed the shotgun and it had gone off,” Mr Dee added.

The court heard there was evidence of “unhappiness” in the couple’s marriage and notes suggested Mrs Taylor was considering suicide.
Various internet searches referencing strangulation, how long people can hold their breath and putting electric items in the bath were also found, but Mr Dee said they could also be related to the couple’s health and safety concerns.

During police interview, Mrs Taylor said the incident was a reckless accident as she was carrying the gun.
Mrs Taylor was charged with attempted murder but the prosecution accepted the lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Chris Geeson, mitigating, described the case as “unique.”
“Mrs Taylor is guilty of a reckless and dangerous act,” he said. “There can be no question of intending to cause injury to her husband. She is extremely remorseful.
“Alan Taylor visits his wife as often as he can, as often as once a week, and he wants her to come home as soon as possible.”

Mary Taylor, of Little London, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm to her husband on December 8 last year.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Heath said much of the case would remain a mystery.
He added: “The prosecution accept there was no intention to kill or to less seriously injure your husband.
“But on that morning of December 8 you for some unbeknown reason picked up his shotgun.”