Poole man kills wife and himself after disease symptoms worsen

A retired salesman took his own life after killing his wife after struggling to cope with her deteriorating condition from suspected Huntington’s disease, an inquest has heard.

The bodies of Michael and Heather Newton were found at their home in Anthony’s Avenue in Poole, Dorset, at 11.35 GMT on 31 December 2024.

A Bournemouth inquest heard that Mrs Newton, 70, died as a result of head injuries, possibly caused by a claw hammer, and strangulation by a ligature. Mr Newton, 76, had hanged himself.

Coroner Brendan Allen said the couple “were devoted to each other” but that Mr Newton had admitted “struggling to cope” with his wife’s new symptoms.

The hearing heard that Mrs Newton’s family had had a history of the inherited brain disorder which had claimed the lives of her sister, Patricia, and father.

Her brother, Christopher Wadman, said in a statement read to the inquest that his sister, who had worked as a hotel conference secretary, had shown deteriorating symptoms when the couple visited for Christmas.

They included signs of jerky movements known as chorea, weight loss, slurred speech and irritability.

Mr Wadman said that Mr Newton was “brilliant to her with his support and helping her get through it” during that period.

“Heather’s condition had worsened more than any of us had actually realised and it was a shock. She had always been in denial about it,” he added.

The sibling’s cousin, Dr Simon Wadman, said that he had called Mr Newton to offer his support on Boxing Day after the couple had returned home early.

He said that Mr Newton had told him the “last three or four weeks had been very difficult and Heather had been very emotionally unstable and irritable”.

He also told him he “felt like he had been walking on eggshells” and that “Heather was in denial about her condition which made it difficult to manage”.

Dr Wadman added the conversation had not “raised any alarm bells and news of their deaths was completely unexpected”.

The inquest heard that Mrs Newton had an appointment with a neurologist in September 2024 because of the chorea symptoms but had declined further tests for Huntington’s disease.

Dr Russell Delaney, a Home Office forensic pathologist, said Mrs Newton’s cause of death had been blunt impact head injuries, similar to those that would be made by a claw hammer, and forceful compression of the neck.

Analysis of her brain showed “long-standing changes consistent with Huntingdon’s disease”.

Dr Delaney said Mr Newton’s the cause of death was suspension by a ligature.

Det Insp Ian Allen, of Dorset Police, said a note in Mr Newton’s handwriting, which had been found at the house, “gives rise to the hypothesis that Michael was struggling with Heather’s condition”.

Mr Allen recorded a conclusion of suicide for Mr Newton and unlawful killing for Mrs Newton.

He said that Mrs Newton had died on the afternoon of 27 December before Mr Newton took his own life.

He described them as “a happily married couple who were devoted to each other, comfortable in each other’s company and supportive of each other”.

“They appeared to have a wide circle of friends and family who all thought highly of them.

“It seems the symptoms of Huntingdon’s disease became more pronounced in the weeks leading up to Christmas with friends noting Mrs Newton becoming agitated and confused and when this was raised with Mr Newton he admitted he was struggling to cope with these new symptoms.”

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