Inquest into murder-suicide deaths of couple

An inquest will be held today into the deaths of an elderly woman and her husband who died after being charged with murdering her.

Alan Thomas, 79, was on bail when he was found dead in a suspected suicide at the family home in Deanwood Drive, Rainham, Kent, on August 9 last year.

Officers were called to the property following concerns for him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of death was recorded as plastic bag suffocation, according to the coroner's office.

Kent Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious. He was due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court just over a fortnight after his death.

He was due to appear charged with murdering his 77-year-old wife, Winifred Thomas, who drowned in a bath at their home last May 9.

The inquest into their deaths will be heard at County Hall, Maidstone.