An elderly step-father tragically passed away after being pushed to the ground by his doctor stepson in a dispute over a rented cottage, a court revealed.
Dr. Jason Waite, aged 54, was engaged in a prolonged legal conflict concerning his late mother’s estate in Snitterby, Lincolnshire, valued at over £5 million. The victim, Peter Skilton, was pushed down, rendered unconscious, and never recovered from the resulting head injury.
The inheritance dispute over Eileen Skilton’s wealth, which began in 2018 upon her demise at 74, led to legal tensions. Dr. Waite initially faced a charge of grievous bodily harm after the incident on December 17, 2024, but the charge was later upgraded to murder following the victim’s death two days after.
The court heard that the rented cottage, previously bequeathed to Mr. Skilton by his late second wife, triggered a costly legal battle after her passing. This legal struggle culminated in a High Court ruling just ten days before Mr. Skilton’s demise the following year.
Prosecutor Pavlos Panayi KC alleged that Dr. Waite grabbed Mr. Skilton’s jacket when the latter tried to take a chair he was carrying, leading to the fatal push on the gravel drive. Witnesses to the incident were the tenants of the cottage, Anthony and Pamela Tootell.
According to Mr. Panayi, both witnesses confirmed that the defendant forcefully threw Mr. Skilton to the ground, causing a severe head injury upon impact.
Following the incident, as paramedics attended to his stepfather, Dr. Waite reportedly remained composed, seated on one of the chairs outside the property. A post-mortem examination later revealed that Mr. Skilton succumbed to brain injuries consistent with a head impact on the ground.
Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs informed the jury that the severity of the brain injury would have been fatal even for a healthier, younger individual.
Dr. Waite reportedly claimed he was in shock and lacked medical expertise, explaining his failure to intervene during the incident. The prosecution highlighted years of disputes over the estate of Eileen Skilton as a possible motive for the alleged crime.
Waite, residing in Waddingham, Lincolnshire, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and manslaughter. The trial is ongoing.
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