A husband has been charged with conspiring to murder his wife.

Bruce Killick is set to appear in court later this month alongside a British national who is accused of attempting to murder Killick's 61-year-old wife Sue.

Karl Cruise, a British national living in the Brittany region of France, is accused of attacking Killick’s wife outside her luxury cottage in Emms Lane, Brooks Green in Horsham.

Cruise, 54, has been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to murder.

Killick, 63, who is self-employed and lives in Emms Lane, has been charged with conspiracy to murder.

MORE:

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the men were being classed as “co-conspirators”.

People described seeing Mrs Killick leaning against a gate at the bottom of her driveway after being attacked on February 16 She was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, where she underwent surgery for serious, but not life-threatening injuries to her head and face.

A builder working on a house opposite said the incident shocked everyone in the area.

He said: “I was only talking to her on Friday.

“We were just chatting about the weather – I can’t believe anyone would do this to her.”

Residents at the nearby Larkin Park caravan site were in a “state of shock” according to one resident.

One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We’re just in shock, you don’t expect this sort of thing to happen around here.

“It’s such a small community and it’s really taken everybody by surprise.

“All our thoughts are with the family, neighbours and friends at this stage and we really hope she makes a full recovery.”

Both men have been remanded into custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on March 17.

A 61-year-old woman from Barnham has been arrested for conspiracy to murder. She has been bailed until April 6 while investigations continue.