An investigation is underway after Edgar Fairhurst, a convicted killer, died in custody. He was serving a life sentence for murdering his partner in 2015.
Devon: An investigation has started after Edgar Fairhurst died while in prison. He was serving a life sentence for killing his partner, Marjorie Elphick, in 2015.
Fairhurst, a retired chemist, was found guilty of murder in 2016. He attacked Marjorie, 83, during an argument about his duvet. They had been together for 40 years.
During the trial, it was revealed that he hit her with a hammer. Marjorie suffered over 30 injuries while trying to defend herself. Fairhurst claimed he snapped after years of nagging.
He admitted to manslaughter but denied murder. The jury did not believe his mental illness defense. The judge stated he intended to kill her.
Fairhurst was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. He died in the hospital on January 11, 2025, while at HMP Gartree, a high-security prison.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating his death, which is standard procedure for inmate fatalities.
A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed Fairhurst’s death and stated that an investigation will take place.
