A NURSE accused of murdering an elderly woman who was in a 'vegetative state' denies killing her to put her out of her misery, a court heard.
Nchokhoa Mtetwa, aged 61, told police she did not believe in euthanasia and said, despite her condition, Elsie Skelton, aged 86, was still a wife and grandmother.
Mtetwa said Mrs Skelton's existence was not miserable because she was unaware of her
condition, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
Mrs Skelton died at Layden Court nursing home, at Maltby, Rotherham, last October 16.
A pathologist concluded she suffered a broken neck and intense bruising, with abrasions to her face consistent with her being smothered.
Nurse Mtetwa, aged 61, a South African mother-of-five, of Tennyson Road, Maltby, denies murder.
Mrs Skelton was last seen by Dr Mohammad Zubairu in August. Her face was expressionless and she did not respond to questions, he said.
She had Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, osteo-arthritis, high blood pressure and had been losing weight for months despite being given supplements when fed by staff.
She was frail, weighed just over 6st and needed 24-hour care. He told police he would not be surprised she had died.
Mtetwa is alleged to have made a brief attempt to resuscitate Mrs Skelton, before telling an inexperienced co-worker to change her clothes and bedding, and lie about how she was found. Then she hit the emergency alarm.
She is accused of telling two different stories .
Mtetwa said English was her third language, after Xhosa and Sesotho. She said: "Things I say are not interpreted correctly and sometimes I use the wrong word and wrong tense."
The case continues.
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