In a true story, a woman’s spelling mistake has resulted in her facing prison for attempted murder. Jacqueline Patrick tried to kill her husband of 26 years by spiking his cherry-flavoured Lambrini with antifreeze. When Mr Patrick was taken to hospital his wife handed paramedics a note that stated, “I Douglas Patrick do not wish to be revived as I would like to die with dignaty (sic) with my family by my side, thank you.”
To save Mr Patrick’s life he was put into an induced coma for nearly two weeks but, when he came round, told police that he had not tried to kill himself. He did remember having two drinks on Christmas Day and going to bed feeling unusually drunk though. Officers became suspicious and asked Mrs Patrick how to spell ‘dignity’. She responded with the same misspelling as used in the purported suicide note, leading officers to investigate further and uncover what they called “a calculated and well-planned plot.”
If his wife had only brushed up on her spelling as part of her plans she might have got away with it…
