Violent crime in an elderly demented patient.

I present here a case of an elderly, severely demented gentleman who is being charged with the violent murder of his wife. These patients, although uncommon, represent a sensitive and difficult area of management for the old age psychiatrist. I examine what literature there is available in this area and draw the conclusion that it is an important and understudied area of psychiatry. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.