A NURSE-COMPANION at the

country home of a wealthy

accountancy family admitted killing her housekeeper rival in a frenzied hammer attack.

Jeanette Veres, 66, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marion Addy, 58, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Her plea of not guilty to murder was accepted at the Old Bailey yesterday. She was remanded in custody for further psychiatric reports.

Mrs Addy was found in a pool of blood in the drawing room of the whitewashed mansion in Ashington on January 6, 1996. The housekeeper had been repeatedly bludgeoned with a club hammer as she laid a fire.

Both she and Veres had worked for Elizabeth and George Touche. Mr Touche's father had founded the accountancy dynasty Touche-Ross.

When Mr Touche died the previous year, aged 92, Veres stayed on in her two-bedroom annexe on a temporary basis - acting as a companion.

She was expected to look for other employment and housing, but seemed reluctant to leave her life on the estate, the court heard.

Her relationship with the housekeeper was described as "personalities clashing".

Bitter feuding marked their dealings and a row had developed in the kitchen that morning, according to police.

Veres followed Mrs Addy into the drawing room of the eight-bedroom, four-bathroom house and repeatedly battered her. She then set fire to her living quarters and drove off, the court heard.

Mrs Addy's body was found by firefighters. Mrs Touche, now in her nineties, was at home.

George Touche had been a senior partner in the accountancy company. In later years he needed constant nursing care and Veres was employed to look after him in 1993.

She reportedly became bitter at what she perceived as demotion in the household hierarchy after Mr Touche's death. Her acrimony towards her work colleague increased.

Veres originally appeared at Lewes Crown Court in December 1997, charged with murder. She was found unfit to plead by a jury.

The case was referred back to court by the Home Secretary after he received reports she might now be fit. She had spent several months in Holloway prison prior to yesterday's hearing.

When the murder charge was put to her, she replied she was not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.

Two psychiatrists agreed that she was suffering from diminished responsibility at the time of the killing.

Mr Justice Blofeld remanded Veres for sentencing on October 22.

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