A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of his 84-year-old wife at their home in Aldwick, West Sussex. Sussex Police says Michael Pyke, 79, entered the plea at Brighton Crown Court on Monday 19 October 2026. He will be sentenced on Friday 13 November.
Defendant. Michael Pyke, 79.
Victim. Beryl Pyke, 84, his wife.
Plea. Guilty to murder, entered at Brighton Crown Court on Monday 19 October 2026.
Sentencing. Friday 13 November 2026. Sussex News reports it will be heard at Brighton Crown Court. Pyke has been remanded in custody until then.
What happened on 31 May
Emergency services went to the couple’s home in Langley Grove on 31 May, after welfare concerns were raised for Beryl Pyke. Officers went in and found her dead, with significant injuries to her head and chest.
Pyke was arrested at the scene. Police say a search found blood-stained clothing in a laundry basket, and the knife used in the attack hidden in a bedside cabinet in his bedroom.
On 2 June he was charged with her murder and remanded into custody.
What police say
“Beryl’s death is a truly tragic loss, and one that has left a lasting impact on everyone who knew and loved her.”
Detective Superintendent Colin Garman, Sussex Police
Garman adds: “Beryl’s life was taken inside her home, a place where she should have been safe.” He says nothing can undo the devastation caused by her death, and that her family and friends “have shown remarkable strength, courage and resilience throughout this incredibly difficult process”.
Garman says the guilty plea brings some clarity to what happened in May, but that for Beryl’s family and those closest to her there is no conclusion to the loss they are living with.
What happens next
Pyke has pleaded guilty but has not yet been sentenced. He is due back before the court on 13 November.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. In an emergency, call 999.
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