A pensioner has appeared in court accused of trying to murder her 73-year-old husband by running him over after nearly 50 years of marriage.
Sally Stickland, 72, is alleged to have hit her husband John with a car near to their family home.
Neighbours found retired John Stickland lying unconscious with serious head injuries on a grass verge with his legs in the road.
A pensioner appeared in court today accused of trying to murder her 73-year-old husband by running him over after nearly 50 years of marriageHe was rushed to hospital with fractures to his neck, right collar bone and temple.
He also sustained a bleed on the brain and lacerations to his head and remains in a serious but stable condition.
Meanwhile, detectives have been quizzing his wife about the incident at around 1.30pm on Saturday.
The couple, from Langley, Hampshire, have three grown-up children and will have been married 50 years on June 1.
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Prosecutor Karen Fairley told Southampton Magistrates Court passers-by discovered Mr Stickland lying half in the road in Langley, Hampshire, and tried to revive him.
He had been lying 'across' the verge with his feet and legs in the road, it was heard.
They also took a mobile phone from his pocket and rang his home to break the news his family.
Prosecutor Karen Fairley told Southampton Magistrates Court passers-by discovered Mr Stickland lying half in the road in Langley, Hants, and tried to revive himOne of them spoke to Stickland, a former draftswoman and merchandiser, who arrived as paramedics treated her husband.
Mrs Fairley said: 'A driver saw the victim in the road and stopped his vehicle to get out.
'At the time the victim is unresponsive. Some other females then attended the scene who say that they are carers and attended to Mr Stickland while the man rang for an ambulance.
'One of the women took a mobile phone out of Mr Stickland’s pocket and then attempted to contact the next of kin.
'She rang the number under the word ‘home’ and told Mr Stickland’s wife of the situation with her husband and indicates that she will attend the location, which she does.'
Magistrates were shown photographs of a recovered vehicle with a cracked windscreen that forensics experts are examining for clues.
Mr Stickland is in a stable condition in Southampton General Hospital but is not yet in a fit state to provide a statement, the court heard.
Stickland, who did not enter a plea, was remanded in custody to appear at Winchester Crown Court on July 13.