Inquest reveals couple's cause of death at Portsmouth home
A woman was found dead from head injuries near her husband's body when police were called to their home, a coroner has said.Chris Stone-Houghton, 66, and Ruth Stone-Houghton, 60, were found by officers at the address in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in September 2022.Mr Stone-Houghton, who was found hanged, had suffered a "sudden, rapid and critical deterioration in his mental health" in the months before the deaths, a pre-inquest hearing was told.Police previously said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Officers found Mrs Stone-Houghton in the master bedroom of the property in Holcot Lane on 14 September, the hearing was told.Assistant coroner Rachel Spearing said the husband's deteriorating mental health first became apparent around Christmas in 2021.She said he suffered from depression, suicidal ideation and at times paranoia, contributed to by the impact of the Covid pandemic.Ms Spearing said: "Chris was under the care of the community mental health team."The last contact with them was two days before his death. He lacked insight into his condition."The inquest heard that Mr Stone-Houghton held a firearms licence, which was being reviewed by police.She said: "There is concern at how Craneswater Group Practice [the Stone-Houghtons' GP surgery] responded to three requests properly made by the police."No firearm was involved in the deaths, the hearing was told.In a previous statement, the recently-retired couple's family said: "Not only were Chris and Ruth amazing parents to their two children - anyone who knew Chris and Ruth will know how hard they worked in so many parts of their lives and they were both known for their positivity and loveable sense of humour."The hearing in Winchester was attended by some of the couple's family and friends as well as by representatives of two NHS trusts.A full inquest will be heard in due course.
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