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Ray Gosling: ''The pact was... if nothing could be done, I would not let him linger''
BBC television presenter Ray Gosling has pleaded guilty to wasting police time after claiming on air that he smothered his terminally ill lover.
Gosling, 71, of Nottingham, was charged over claims he made to BBC Breakfast's Bill Turnbull in February.
He was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but charged with wasting police time after the confession was determined to be false.
At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he apologised for any distress he caused.
Gosling's claim was first made in a BBC Inside Out documentary about so-called mercy killings, broadcast on 15 February.
He said: "I killed someone once. He was a young chap, he'd been my lover and he got Aids.
"I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead."
He was interviewed by Mr Turnbull on the Breakfast programme the following day and asked about his claims and again confessed to the mercy killing.
Gosling was charged with wasting police time after the CPS decided there was enough evidence to "provide a realistic prospect of proving that Mr Gosling's confession was false".
Entering his guilty plea, the presenter told the court: "Digby Johnson, my solicitor, tells me technically I am guilty.
"I just want to say, very clearly and very strongly, sorry to my lover's family and for the distress I have caused them and sorry that apparently I have wasted police time."
Earlier in the hearing he had denied the charge, saying: "In my heart and in my head I plead not guilty."
But after a short adjournment with his solicitor, he charged his plea.
The case was adjourned prior to sentencing later on Tuesday.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ray Gosling: ''The pact was... if nothing could be done, I would not let him linger''
BBC television presenter Ray Gosling has pleaded guilty to wasting police time after claiming on air that he smothered his terminally ill lover.
Gosling, 71, of Nottingham, was charged over claims he made to BBC Breakfast's Bill Turnbull in February.
He was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but charged with wasting police time after the confession was determined to be false.
At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he apologised for any distress he caused.
Gosling's claim was first made in a BBC Inside Out documentary about so-called mercy killings, broadcast on 15 February.
“"I just want to say, very clearly and very strongly, sorry to my lover's family and for the distress I have caused them”
Ray Gosling "I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead."
He was interviewed by Mr Turnbull on the Breakfast programme the following day and asked about his claims and again confessed to the mercy killing.
Gosling was charged with wasting police time after the CPS decided there was enough evidence to "provide a realistic prospect of proving that Mr Gosling's confession was false".
Entering his guilty plea, the presenter told the court: "Digby Johnson, my solicitor, tells me technically I am guilty.
"I just want to say, very clearly and very strongly, sorry to my lover's family and for the distress I have caused them and sorry that apparently I have wasted police time."
Earlier in the hearing he had denied the charge, saying: "In my heart and in my head I plead not guilty."
But after a short adjournment with his solicitor, he charged his plea.
The case was adjourned prior to sentencing later on Tuesday.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.