Tragic details emerge after mum and daughter found dead at home in 'murder-suicide'
Martina Karos, 40, and her eight-year-old daughter Eleni Edwards were discovered lying side by side in their home, and now more details have emerged at a court hearing.
New details haver emerged after a mum and her young daughter were found dead together in what police believe was a suspected murder-suicide.
Martina Karos, 40, and her eight-year-old daughter Eleni Edwards were discovered lying side by side in their home in Salford in September last year. It was initially thought the pair may have died from gas exposure, and detectives launched a full investigation into the circumstances.
However Greater Manchester Police later said they were treating the case as a suspected murder-suicide.
Martina, of Italian and Greek heritage and raised in Rome, had been living in the UK for several years and previously studied at a local university. She was also the full-time carer for Eleni, who was described as "severely disabled".
At Bolton Coroner's Court this week, it was revealed that a full inquest is set for January 2026. It will examine the final 18 months of the mother's life — a period marked by a noticeable decline in Martina's mental health.
Friends of Martina said she had been deeply affected by her struggles with mental illness and the intense pressure of caring for Eleni, with a revolving door of carers from an agency reportedly adding to her stress.
'We feel that had an impact on Martina's mental health,' one family member told the court.
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The coroner has now requested detailed records from the care agency, listing all carers and the dates and times they visited in the months before the tragedy, reports the Mirror.
Salford City Council confirmed a 'rapid review' of child safeguarding practice is underway following the deaths. The report is expected to be finalised by the end of July, the court heard.
The inquest will proceed without a jury, with the coroner alone examining the evidence. It was also confirmed that both deaths will be investigated together, given how 'intertwined' their circumstances were.
'In Eleni's inquest, consideration will likely be given to Martina's mental health in the period leading up to these deaths,' said Manchester West area coroner Peter Sigee.
Legal representatives from Salford City Council, Greater Manchester Mental Health Service, and the Medical Defence Union were present at the hearing, along with a senior GMP detective.
The next pre-inquest review will take place on October 28.
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