Doctor facing jail after she suffocated her terminally-ill dad, 88, with pillow in ‘act of mercy’

An ‘act of mercy’ by a doctor who choked her dying father with a pillow has landed her in jail.

Today, Dr. Lisa Davenport pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges at Oxford Crown Court for the death of her father, Barrie Davenport, 88.

The prosecution agreed to the guilty plea, which was founded on manslaughter by reason of diminished culpability.

When Mr. Justice Linden Barrie passed away in October 2022, prosecutor John Price informed High Court Judge that he was “in the advanced stages of terminal pancreatic cancer.”

According to the court, the OAP was bedridden, mostly unconscious, and anticipated to die soon.

Lisa told a manager and a care facility resident where her father had been staying that she had smothered him to death with a pillow.

Mr. Price stated: “The defendant’s own admission of guilt to others served as the cornerstone of the prosecution’s case.

“The evidence showed that he could not have had a more committed caregiver or better family care from that date until his death than this defendant gave him.”

“It was in that context that she took his life.”

Lisa’s goal, the court heard, was to end his suffering by providing palliative care.

After her father passed away, Lisa was examined by three specialist psychiatrists, according to what Mr. Justice Linden heard.

Mr. Price stated: “They all agree that Dr. Davenport was experiencing mental abnormalities at the time of the murder, which were linked to multiple recognized medical conditions in her instance.

“There was a clear history of clinical signs and symptoms of the conditions diagnosed by doctors when they assessed her in October and November this year.”

Additionally, he mentioned a “long established pre-existing history.”

“At that time, she was unable to acknowledge what she had done,” Mr. Price said. The reports were prepared in that setting.

“All of the psychiatrists agreed that it explained what she had done and significantly hampered her capacity for self-control and logical behavior.

“The professionals believed that the doctors’ judgments were compellingly strong.

“The prosecution came to the conclusion that the defendant would probably succeed in proving this defense to the civil standard if the matter proceeded to trial.

“If there were a plea of guilty to manslaughter on this basis, the proper course would be to accept it for the reasons I have outlined.”

According to defense attorney Mary Prior, Lisa’s brother and sister have “supported” her ever since the case began.

She stated to the judge: “You will understand this was, as the Crown fairly pointed out, a loving, devoted daughter who was the primary carer for her father who had been unwell for many years but terminally ill more recently.”

The court was informed that Lisa was carrying “the burden of responsibility” as Barrie had declined to enter a hospice.

“Unfortunately, the conditions she has had for many years were not appropriately diagnosed or treated at the time this was happening,” Ms. Prior continued.

“We will characterise this at sentencing hearing as a matter of mercy.”

On February 7, 2025, Lisa, of Washle Drive, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxford, is scheduled to be sentenced.

Conditional bail was granted for her release.

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