Ex-soldier killed himself and wife as he did not want friends to know she was leaving him, inquest hears
Graham McCartney, 63, stabbed his wife twice in the torso with a kitchen knife, before poisoning them both with carbon monoxide
Graham was depressed and ashamed 59-year-old Jane McCartney had split with him and moved back into her late parents home, a year earlier
“His image of how the outside world perceived him was extreme and ultimately of fatal importance” –
Assistant Coroner Luisa Nicholson
The Coroner ruled the deaths murder-suicide, unlawful killing for Jane McCartney and suicide for Graham McCartney
Graham McCartney embarassed that his wife left him attacked her with a kitchen knife, before poisoning them both with carbon monoxide
Graham McCartney, 63, a British military veteran killed himself and his estranged wife in a tragic murder-suicide because he could not bear the thought of friends and family knowing that she was leaving him, an inquest heard.
Following the double death, the couple’s grown son George, received a suicide note in the mail from his father, which detailed various financial matters.The letter ended: “Do not show this to the police. I am not leaving a note. Just could not stand the humiliation any more. Look after your sister, sorry Dad.”
Graham McCartney allegedly, stabbed his wife Jane, 59, twice in the torso with a kitchen knife, before poisoning them both with carbon monoxide. Their bodies were discovered when a man came to view the property, which had recently been put up for sale.
The couple had split the previous year with Mrs McCartney leaving the marital home in Honiton and moving back into her late parents’ home. They had both attended the wedding of their daughter, Nicole, just a week before the incident, with Mr McCartney giving her away.
Mrs McCartney, a University of Exeter accountant, died from a combination of stab wounds, which she could not have inflicted upon herself, and carbon monoxide inhalation, a UK Coroner’s Court heard while Graham who had served in the army and owned a string of garages, died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mr McCartney, was described as a private man and did not like to think other’s knew his personal affairs and had become increasingly worried that people knew about the marriage split.
George, had visited his father’s doctor in August 2014 expressing concern about his father mental health, saying he had been suffering from depression for a few years.
“He was really upset at Mum moving out and I told him he was depressed and should speak to somebody. He said he didn’t want anybody knowing Mum was moving out, including family and friends,” he told the hearing. George recounted receiving the suicide note in the mail after death of his parents.
Jane McCartney had left the marital home and moved into her late parents’ bungalow, still she died at the hands of the man she was trying to remove from her life
His sister-in-law, Angela Pitt, described Graham McCartney as an otherwise steady gentleman, who unfortunately had suffered from bouts of depression over the years but, to her knowledge, had not seen a doctor about it.She added: “In my view Graham was not an aggressive monster. The Graham I knew would have utterly condemned what has happened. I think he has lost contact with reality.”
Other acquaintances gave a contrasting view. Some of the couple’s friends said the couple’s relationship had struggled in the time leading up to their death, with frequent arguments which led to Mrs McCartney eventually leaving her husband.
The inquest heard neither Mr or Mrs McCartney, who had two children together, had a history of mental health illness.
But friend Margaret Evans said: “She said she couldn’t feel she could have a conversation with a man on the high street and if Graham saw that, he would be so angry she felt he could almost kill her in his rage.”
Assistant Coroner Luisa Nicholson who recorded conclusions of unlawful killing for Jane McCartney and suicide for Graham McCartney, said: “I am satisfied the McCartneys were experiencing marital difficulties, were living apart and were in the throes of separation, which Mr McCartney, who appears to have been a proud man where outward appearances mattered very much, at best could not accept,” she said.
A prospective home buyer found the bodies in their detached bungalow in the village of Dalwood, Devon, UK
His image of how the outside world perceived him was extreme and ultimately of fatal importance,
Luisa Nicholson said.
“It seems Mrs McCartney was taking all possible steps to start a new life for herself and was looking forward to her impending retirement.
“We have heard from the police that financial papers were found, possibly indicating that financial matters were being discussed. An altercation or disturbance appears to have taken place in the lounge during which certain items were damaged.
“As we have heard from family and friends there is no good reason at all why she would want to take her own life in some form of suicide pact
“We will never know for certain what precipitated the vicious attack on Mrs McCartney.
“It appears he simply could not deal with his wife wanting to start a new life without him. He was also a very proud man and his image of how the outside world perceived him was extreme and ultimately of fatal importance.
“This is a double tragedy and no doubt heartbreaking and utterly incomprehensible for all parties involved. We will never know the full story of what happened that day.”
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