Japanese knotweed, it's a problem

[Gob]

A doctor bludgeoned his wife to death before killing himself over fears their home was blighted by Japanese knotweed, an inquest heard.

Labratory technician Kenneth McRae, 52, battered partner Jane, 55, with a bottle of perfume as she lay in their bed, causing fatal head injuries.

In a suicide note, he said he killed his wife because the balance of his mind had been 'disturbed' by knotweed at their home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands.

He wrote: 'I believe I was not an evil man, until the balance of my mind was disturbed by the fact there is a patch of Japanese Knotweed which has been growing over our boundary fence on the Rowley Regis Golf Course.'
The doctor claimed golf course managers had been made aware of the problem but nothing had been done.

After trying to curb the weed's growth unsuccessfully, he said the risk of structural damage and legal battles 'led to my growing madness.'

He added: 'Jane and I were a very private couple, we chose to have no real friends, just enjoying each other.
Found nearby: Japanese Knotweed which an inquest heard Kenneth McRae believed was undermining his home

'But the despair has got so bad that today I have killed her, as I did not want her to be alone without an income when I killed myself.'

A police investigation found she may have lain dead in bed on the second floor of the three-storey house for up to a week. Dr McRae had been found with injuries on the first floor of the home.

An inquest heard labratory technician Kenneth McRae, 52, battered partner Jane, 55, with a bottle of perfume as she lay in their bed, causing fatal head injuries


Police had broken into the reclusive couple's home after concerns were raised by the lab technician's colleagues.
Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said it appeared Dr McRae had suffered from paranoia over the knotweed, which was not found on their property, although a patch of the invasive plant had been discovered nearby.

Neighbours also later claimed the area had suffered from knotweed before homes were built on the site.
Mr Balmain said: 'This is clearly a tragedy. They appeared for whatever reason to keep themselves to themselves, they were perfectly entitled to do that.

'The impression is Mr McRae was possibly becoming paranoid, there is no direct evidence of that of course.

[Grim Reaper]

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said it appeared Dr McRae had suffered from paranoia over the knotweed, which was not found on their property, although a patch of the invasive plant had been discovered nearby.

That reads like the ending of a horror story. I bet Stephen King could knock out a short story in about half an hour.

[rubato]

There must be different types. This type is grown as an ornamental locally. Looks great against a shaded background:




Doesn't spread at all. There was some in the yard when we moved in and I had to ask what it was at the garden store. Dies back at the end of summer and then pushes up new branches from the ground each spring. Never do much for it except avoid watering on the leaves because it turns then brown.

"...
Neighbours also later claimed the area had suffered from knotweed before homes were built on the site.
Mr Balmain said: 'This is clearly a tragedy. They appeared for whatever reason to keep themselves to themselves, they were perfectly entitled to do that.

'The impression is Mr McRae was possibly becoming paranoid, there is no direct evidence of that of course.

Short of, you know, murder.


yrs,
rubato

[Rick]

Maybe it's that Poison Ivy holding it back

[Daisy]

It's classed as toxic waste here.

You need specialised companies to remove it and make sure it doesn't come back by sterilising the ground that it was removed from.

United Kingdom
In the UK, Japanese Knotweed is established in the wild in many parts of the country and creates problems due to the impact on biodiversity, flooding management and damage to property. It is an offence under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any plant listed in Schedule nine, Part II to the Act, which includes Japanese knotweed. It is also classed as "controlled waste" in Britain under part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This requires disposal at licensed landfill sites. The species is expensive to remove; Defra's Review of Non-native Species Policy states that a national eradication programme would be prohibitively expensive at £1.56 billion.[7]
The decision was taken on 9 March 2010 in the UK to release into the wild a Japanese psyllid insect, Aphalara itadori.[8] Its diet is highly specific to Japanese knotweed and shows good potential for its control.[9][10]
In Scotland, the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force in July 2012 that superseded the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This act states that is an offence to spread intentionally or unintentionally Japanese knotweed (or other non-native invasive species).

Japanese knotweed can be cause of mortgage refusal on a property and will reduce the value of the property.

Still probably not a reason to clonk your wife over the bonce with a bottle of No5.

[Rick]

That was definitely one killer fragrance

[Sue U]

Rick:



Just sayin.

[Rick]

My bad

[Gob]

Japanese knotweed can be cause of mortgage refusal on a property and will reduce the value of the property.

Still probably not a reason to clonk your wife over the bonce with a bottle of No5.

Keyboard!!!!

[Joe Guy]

I just realized that Rick & Sue would have made a striking couple....

If they had only met earlier in their lives