A retired salesman killed his wife of four decades before ending his own life after struggling to care for her as her terminal illness worsened, a coroner's court has heard.
A Devastating Discovery on New Year's Eve
The bodies of Heather Newton, 70, and Michael Newton, 76, were discovered at their £800,000 home near Poole Harbour in Dorset on New Year's Eve last year. Worried friends entered the property in Lower Parkstone, Poole, through the back door after several days of no activity.
Heather Newton suffered from Huntington's disease, a fatal genetic condition that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. An inquest in Bournemouth heard her symptoms had deteriorated significantly in the weeks before her death, leaving her emotionally unstable and irritable.
A Christmas Visit and a Rapid Decline
The couple had spent Christmas with Heather's brother, Christopher Wadman, in East Sussex. He told the inquest he was shocked by his sister's decline, noting she had lost weight, had slurred speech, and seemed distant.
"She did have moments during Christmas Day where she was distressed and Michael consoled her," Mr Wadman stated. "Michael seemed to take a lot of chastisement but dealt well with it. She was talking to herself, having conversations with Michael when he wasn't in the room."
The couple returned home to Poole on Boxing Day morning as Heather was "done and wanted to go home". Later that day, Dr Simon Wadman, another brother-in-law, phoned Michael Newton and advised him to seek GP support. Michael revealed the previous three to four weeks had been very difficult, with Heather emotionally unstable and him feeling like he was "walking on eggshells".
The Final Tragic Acts
Coroner Brendan Allen concluded that Michael Newton killed his wife sometime on the afternoon of 27 December. He left a note in the study alongside their wills, expressing regret "for what has happened" and the impact of his wife's worsening condition.
A post-mortem examination found Heather Newton died from a combination of blunt force head injury and forcible compression of the neck. Michael Newton died from hanging.
The coroner stated the couple were devoted and supportive of each other. He recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing for Heather and suicide for Michael, stating he had inflicted fatal injuries on his wife before taking his own life by ligature suspension.
The inquest also heard that Huntington's disease had run in Heather Newton's family for generations, which was the reason the couple had chosen not to have children.
