People were initially shocked to think that something like that could happen around here

Carwyn Jenkins, village postmaster

Harrison was put on probation for three years after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Villagers from the hamlet of Penrhiwnewydd said the couple had gone out of their way for years to protect their privacy.

Penrhiwcoch postmaster Carwyn Jenkins said Mr Harrison would go to another village to collect his pension and leave his car at the end of the lane for the garage to collect when it needed servicing.

"When the couple were discovered back in the summer people were initially shocked to think that something like that could happen around here.

"But when the names of those involved came out nobody had the faintest idea who they were."

At the end of the trial, Judge Justice Curtis ordered Mr Harrison to undergo a programme of psychiatric help.

"At the time you did this, you were yourself suffering mental ill health

Judge Curtis

Leighton Davies, prosecuting, said police were called to the reclusive couple's remote farmhouse in the village of Penrhiwnewydd, in June.

He said that Mr Harrison had called the emergency services himself about an hour after the couple had made their pact reality, when he realised it had failed.

The pensioner was taken to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, where he recovered and was later interviewed by police.

Trefor Davies QC, defending, said the couple had lived a very private life and feared they could be forced out of their home because of illness.

'Despair and depression'

He said that Mrs Harrison suffered from a long list of illnesses, including heart disease, arthritis, bronchitis and incontinence.

He added that Mr Harrison could not contemplate life without his wife and had fallen into despair and clinical depression.

"Even setting aside his advanced age, a custodial sentence would not be appropriate in this case," Mr Davies said.

Passing sentence, Judge Curtis agreed that Mr Harrison did not present a risk to public well-being.

'Diminished responsibility'

"At the time you did this, you were yourself suffering from mental ill health.

"Consequently, and irrespective of anything else, your responsibility in law was diminished."

He added that he had no hesitation in finding that Mrs Harrison had died as the result of an agreement with her husband to commit suicide.

"The evidence satisfies me that there was no sign of a struggle," he said.