WARNING: This story includes references to suicide and details a killing.

A Nova Scotia judge sentenced a 75 year old man to six years in prison for smothering his ailing wife. Douglas Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the April 2022 death of his wife Iris Dodd. The sentencing took place Tuesday in Kentville.

According to a report from the CBC, the couple faced a harrowing situation. They had been married for 33 years but were facing eviction from their Kingsport home the very next day.

Failing Health and a Desperate Plan

Dodd experienced severe health decline after a stroke in 2018. She used a wheelchair and was losing her eyesight. She also lived with chronic pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia. Recent bouts of pneumonia led to a long hospital stay.

Court documents reveal Dodd told her husband she refused to spend her final years in a long term care facility. She planned to take all her medication at once to end her life. She asked Smith to arrange the pills because she could not see them well. She also told him to leave the house so he would not face charges.

Smith initially refused. Dodd became very upset and made him promise to help her. He agreed and the couple planned to go ahead the following day. This agreement helped Dodd calm down and fall asleep.

The Night of the Incident

Smith could not sleep. He worried his wife would die alone. He also feared her plan would fail and leave her with permanent brain damage. To resolve these fears, Smith got up and held a pillow over her face.

The next day, Smith drove to the local RCMP detachment to turn himself in. Finding the office closed, he called 911 from the parking lot. He confessed to the dispatcher that he caused his wife’s death.

When the dispatcher asked for details, Smith replied that she was in distress and he eased her distress. Police arrested him shortly after.

Court Proceedings

Smith showed deep emotion in court. He held his head in his hands while officials read the agreed statement of facts. He wept when Crown prosecutor Daniel Rideout detailed the smothering. When asked if he needed a break, Smith said he just wanted to get it over with.

Rideout told the court this case differs from recent domestic homicides in the province. He noted compassion drove Smith to take his wife’s life. However, Rideout emphasized that Smith still broke the law and had other options available.

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know needs help, resources are available. You can call or text the National Suicide Hotline at 988. You can also reach Talk Suicide Canada at 1 833 456 4566.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Douglas Smith convicted of?

Douglas Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a six year prison sentence.

Why did Douglas Smith kill his wife?

His wife Iris Dodd suffered from severe health issues and asked him to help her end her life. Smith smothered her because he feared her plan to overdose would fail and leave her with brain damage.

Where did this incident take place?

The incident occurred in the couple’s home in Kingsport Nova Scotia.