Mandy Houghton A 72-year-old man is on trial for murdering his neighbour by inflicting a sustained and forceful attack on her using a claw hammer. Alan Fare appeared at Preston Crown Court via videolink from Guild Lodge, where he has been since October, following his arrest and subsequent charge in June 2020 over the murder of 58-year-old Mandy Houghton. Fare, of Victory Close, Nelson, is accused of murdering the mum-of-two on June 3 at her home in the same road. The pensioner has been deemed unfit to plead and stand trial due to him suffering with dementia, paranoia and psychosis, which is something the prosecution say had been of concern to Ms Houghton in the weeks preceding her death.