A NURSE who killed her philandering husband with an axe has launched a bid to stay in her profession.

Wadanahalugeder Chandrasekera, 60, of Port Close, Bearsted, struck estranged husband Sarath 11 times with an axe, after she found out that he had been having an affair with her niece, and that the couple had a daughter.

She was convicted of manslaughter, but was allowed to walk free from court after the judge heard how she had suffered years of emotional abuse by her husband.

Chandrasekera, who had worked as a health visitor, appeared before the Nursing and Midwifery Council on Wednesday at a hearing that could have seen her struck off the register.

The hearing was adjourned until December after the disciplinary panel heard how she had been unable to arrange legal representation.

The tribunal was read the charge against Chandrasekera – that she was convicted of manslaughter at Maidstone Crown Court on January 11 last year and sentenced to a three-year community punishment order.

Woolwich Crown Court had heard how Chandrasekera was separated from her husband of 30 years on October 22, 2005 when she found out he had fathered a child with her niece.

She told police she "snapped" when she heard the news and killed Sarath, 57, with an axe at the home they had shared in Bearsted.

The Sri-Lankan-born defendant was originally charged with murder, but she pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and the plea was accepted.

She was allowed to walk free from court after the judge heard how she had served 10 months on remand and had suffered years of "emotional abuse from her husband".