A husband may have helped his sick wife to die before killing himself at their seaside home on New Year’s Eve, a family friend has said.
The bodies of Michael and Heather Newton were discovered in their property close to Poole Harbour, Dorset, on New Year’s Eve.
A friend of Ms Newton, 70, has now said she had “not been well” before her death and that her husband may have assisted in her death “out of mercy” before taking his own life.
It comes after previous reports suggested the incident may have been a murder-suicide.
One neighbour of the couple also said they believed Ms Newton was suffering from Huntington’s disease, a fatal illness which causes nerve cells in the brain to decay over time.
Police have confirmed they do not believe anybody else was involved and said Mr Newton’s death was not suspicious while his wife’s death was “unexplained”.
The friend of Ms Newton’s, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the 70-year-old had not been well in the time before her death.
They said: “They were dear friends and beautiful people. Whatever happened, I’m sure there was no malice involved.”
The friend said they did not know any details about what happened but said the death would have been “out of mercy” and not a “murder-suicide” incident.
A neighbour of the couple said they had last seen the pair before Christmas, adding that there “was nothing unusual and they seemed fine”.
“I know she [Ms Newton] was not well – I think she had Huntington’s disease,” they added.
“Whatever happened, I’m glad there was no third party involvement, but until the inquest we will not get answers. It is a shock.”
Dorset Police said the force was contacted at 11.35am on New Year’s Eve to reports of an “incident” in Anthony’s Avenue.
Officers attended, alongside ambulance service staff, and the bodies of the pair were found in the house, the force said.
Police are appealing for anyone with information about the couple’s movements over the Christmas period to come forward.
Ms Newton was a director of Priesthawes Farms of Polegate, East Sussex, which grows cereals, leguminous crops and oil seeds.
The couple had lived in the property on Antony’s Avenue in the affluent Liliputt suburb of Poole since 2006.
Mark Dobson, whose wife Eleanor is a niece of the Newtons, said: “We’re working with the police at the moment. It’s all very shocking and we’re just trying to process it. We don’t know anything at the moment about what actually happened.”
A family friend who knew the Newtons for many years said: “I really am shocked because they were really lovely, lovely people.
“I know people who were much closer to them than I am are really struggling to come to terms with it.
“I wouldn’t want to say too much more. It’s all very upsetting.”
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “The death of the man is not being treated as suspicious. The death of the woman is being treated as unexplained. The next of kin is continuing to be supported by specialist officers as enquiries continue.”
Detective Inspector Ian Allen, of Dorset Police, said: “This is a very sad incident and we are doing all we can to support the next of kin.
“Officers are carrying out enquiries to establish exactly what happened and a cordon is in place to allow a thorough investigation of the scene to take place.
“At this time, it is not believed anyone else was involved in the incident and enquiries will continue to find out the full circumstances surrounding the deaths.”
