THE NEPHEW of ‘much-loved’ Anne Dunkley has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter.
Paranoid schizophrenic Gareth Emery, 25, formerly of Clinton Road in Shirley, denied murdering the 67-year-old retired teacher at her home in Marston Green on June 5 last year.
He also admitted a charge of wounding with intent for attacking Anne’s son Matthew Dunkley.
Anne was a pillar of the Marston Green community, having been involved in various youth groups and St Leonard’s Church where she was church warden.
She died from head injuries sustained in an attack by Emery at her Elmdon Road home.
A sea of floral tributes appeared outside her home after her death and a book of condolence was also opened in the church for people to pay their respects
Hundreds of people took to the church’s Facebook page to pay tribute to ‘a kind, gentle lady with a pure heart of gold’.
Leading the tributes was the church itself which posted: “We hold in our thoughts and prayers the family, friends and community who grieve the loss of Anne Dunkley.
“Anne contributed so much to St. Leonard’s, scouts, guides, the Parish Hall, as a school governor and to the community of Marston Green. Most of all to her family.
“Words cannot express our sadness.”
Emery, who is reported to have been suffering from ‘abnormal mental function’ associated with his schizophrenia on the day of the tragic incident, has been remanded at a secure hospital until he is sentenced on May 13.
