A man attacked his wife and then told hospital staff he had killed her, a coroner heard yesterday.

Police were said to want to interview Christopher Holland, of Prestwick Close, Otley, in connection with the death of his 41-year-old wife Jennifer Holland.

The inquest was told that a depressed Mr Holland, 43, had been admitted to a hospital in Leeds after taking an overdose of tablets.

On April 12 High Royds Hospital agreed to take Mr Holland and both he and his wife took a taxi from Leeds, arriving at the hospital in Menston at 4pm.

Det Sgt Paul Morthouse said that the couple went through the booking-in procedures and while waiting for a bed to be made up, asked permission to go for a walk in the grounds.

"Mr Holland later returned to the building alone and told doctors 'I have killed my wife'," said Det Sgt Morthouse.

Hospital staff went to a secluded part of the grounds and found Mrs Holland laying face down with massive head injuries. Staff administered first aid and an ambulance took her to Leeds General Infirmary. Mr Holland was then arrested.

The inquest was told that police found a house brick matted with blood and hair at the scene. On April 30 Mr Holland was charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody.

Mrs Holland, a caretaker with her husband at the Orchard Gate shopping centre in Otley, was in hospital for five weeks. But after spending one week at home, she began to have breathing problems and was readmitted to the LGI, where it was found she had a blood clot. She died in hospital on May 25 at 8.15pm.

Mr Holland is now being treated at Newton Lodge Hospital in Wakefield. Doctors have said that he is mentally unfit and that it could be several months before he responds to treatment well enough for him to be interviewed.

Adjourning the inquest, Leeds Coroner David Hinchliff released Mrs Holland's body so her funeral could be held.