Spalding killer due to be sentenced later this month after psychiatric assessment delays

A man found by a jury to have caused the death of a woman at her home in Spalding is due to appear before a judge later this month, following delays linked to psychiatric assessments. Kristine Sparane, 37, was found dead at her flat on Winsover Road on 26 November 2024. The case has since been progressing through Lincoln Crown Court, with the next hearing listed for 30 April. Brian Simpson, 64, of Nene Court, Spalding, had originally been charged with murder. However, the case took a different legal course after he was found unfit to stand trial because of his mental health. In such cases, a trial of facts is held to determine whether the defendant carried out the act alleged, rather than whether they are guilty in the usual criminal sense. A jury later concluded that Simpson caused Ms Sparane's death. Court proceedings heard that she worked at a supermarket. Further details about her injuries were outlined during the case, but the court's focus has now turned to the medical evidence needed before a final decision can be made about Simpson's future. Earlier hearings were told that an initial psychiatric report had taken longer than expected and would not be completed until the end of March. The court has since heard that Simpson has been assessed by two defence psychiatrists, while a further report is still awaited from a prosecution psychiatrist. Additional psychiatric evidence is also expected to help the court decide whether a hospital order without time limit is appropriate. This means the hearing at the end of April is expected to address not only the legal outcome of the case, but also whether Simpson should be detained in a secure mental health hospital. Because Simpson was found unfit to stand trial, the case is not following the usual path to sentence after a criminal conviction. Instead, the court must consider the available medical evidence alongside the jury's finding before deciding what order, if any, should be made. The case has drawn attention in Spalding and across Lincolnshire because of both the death of Ms Sparane and the legal process that follows when a defendant is not considered fit to take part in a trial. The forthcoming hearing is expected to mark the next significant stage in proceedings at Lincoln Crown Court. Ms Sparane's death has had a clear impact on the local community, and the case continues to be closely followed as the court works through the remaining medical and legal issues. The judge's decision later this month is expected to clarify the next step in a case that has remained before the courts for several months.