A 63-year-old man battered his wife to death in a murder-suicide after receiving a large tax bill, an inquest has heard.
Richard Parks, a tree surgeon from Tunbridge Wells, stabbed and strangled his 53-year-old wife Suratchanee ‘Lat’ Parks following an altercation at their Kent home earlier this year.
Mrs Parks, who worked at a nail bar and Thai massage parlour, was found dead with several injuries inside the first-floor bathroom on February 23.
Officers found she had suffered a fractured skull as her body laid in the hallway.
There were bloodstains on the stairs and in several other rooms in the house.
Mr Parks, who owned a tree surgery company, received a large tax bill from HMRC just weeks before the attack.
The couple had hoped to relocate to Thailand following their retirement next year.
Robert Parks, Richard’s brother, told the inquest that the couple were still hoping to move once the problems were resolved.
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He said: “This is a terribly sad situation. Only those two will ever know exactly what happened.
“They loved each other very much and he was looking forward to going to Thailand. It’s just terribly sad for both families.”
Family members also claimed that Mr Parks had been “struggling with his mental health” but that his marriage was “happy and without problems”.
Investigating Officer Detective Constable Jessica Summers said prior to the attack, Mr Parks had taken steps to set his affairs in order.
Maidstone Coroner’s Court
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The 63-year-old had made changes to his will just two days before, even handing a folder of important documents and the combination to his safe to his sister.
Relatives visited the house on the day of the couple’s deaths following concerns about their welfare.
The pathologist said it was not possible to determine the order of the injuries sustained by Mrs Parks, other than the wounds to her neck had been delivered after her death or as she was dying.
Maidstone Coroner Roger Hatch later concluded that Mrs Parks was unlawfully killed and that Mr Parks had taken his own life.
