A WOMAN killed by her depressed husband was a "wonderful mum" and was "loved and treasured", her daughter told a court.

Clare Belcher told Cardiff Crown Court her parents, cancer patient Michael Farley and wife Shirley, from Caldicot, were "wonderful and loving - the best parents in the world".

An emotional Mrs Belcher addressed the court to speak of her "heartbreak" during a family impact statement, made after her father admitted Mrs Farley's manslaughter.

His plea of manslaughter with diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution, after he had denied murdering her.

The court heard how Farley, 72, strangled his 69-year-old wife of more than 50 years at their home in Ash Grove.

The killing was sparked by a disagreement over holiday plans and hormone therapy for his prostate cancer, the court was told.

After he realised what he had done, Farley tried to stab himself through the heart with a knife, the prosecution said.

Prosecutor Peter Heyward said that on June 14, Gwent police received a 999 call from Farley, saying he had killed his wife by strangling her because of "something she said."

Two officers went to their home and upstairs they saw Farley sitting in a bath holding a knife with a three-inch blade, which he handed over. There was blood running down his abdomen and dripping into the bath.

Mrs Farley's body was in the living room.

On the way to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital, Farley said to a paramedic: "What have I done? My family are going to hate me and I am going to prison for life."

Judge Mr Justice Davis ordered Farley to be detained in hospital for psychiatric treatment, after telling Mrs Belcher the case was "a tragedy for you and your family."

Mrs Belcher, a bank clerk, told the court: "We were blessed with the most wonderful, caring, supportive, loving, giving, understanding and encouraging parents - they were the best parents in the world - and they were all of our worlds, and we were theirs."

The court heard how the couple were married in 1955 and had three children.

"They were a devoted and loving couple, described by family and friends and neighbours as having an idyllic relationship.

"They were model parents and grandparents," said prosecutor Mr Heyward.

Mrs Belcher said the impact of her mother's death was "devastating, tragic and heartbreaking."

She said: "Our world has fallen apart and we have lost the most wonderful mum, who has left a hole so big nothing will ever be the same again."

She described her mother as a "sweet, beautiful, wonderful mum, who filled our lives with laughter and love. She was absolutely loved and treasured."

And she said: "Mum would want us to look after Dad, and we want to look after Dad, because he is the most wonderful father and devoted Boppie who is missed every minute of every day."

"Dad isn't well, and we just wait and pray for the day that we can bring him home and care for him, love him and look after him. Dad is a good man, and we wouldn't change him for anything in the world."

Speaking outside court, Detective Inspector Roger Fortey, the senior investigating officer, said: "I am pleased that this tragic case has progressed to this stage as swiftly as it has. The family can now have closure and will hopefully move on from here.

"I would like to praise my officers within the team for their professionalism and importantly their sympathetic approach to this case."