KEY POINTS:
An elderly man due to stand trial for the attempted murder of his estranged wife has died before the case could come to court.
The man, whose name was suppressed, had been expected to appear in the High Court at Hamilton for callover last Wednesday.
However, his lawyer, Gavin Boot, told the court the 73-year-old had died the previous week and the charges against him attempted murder, threatening to kill, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm could not proceed.
Police said the man went to the home of the his wife from whom he had been separated since last year and attempted to stab her with a boning knife, tried to smother her with a pillow, and to choke her using his hands.
- NZPA
