Couple found dead after suspected murder

A couple in their sixties have been found dead in a suspected murder-suicide after concerns were raised that they had not contacted relatives over Christmas.

The pair are believed to be Judith Ann Brierley, 67, and Kim Matthews, 62, both of Ealing, west London, though formal identification has not yet taken place.

Police were called to their house at around 11am on Friday, and found the body of a man hanging.

Following a search upstairs, they found the body of the woman. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The death of the man is not believed to be suspicious and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place on Thursday.

A post-mortem examination yesterday gave the cause of death for the woman as ligature compression of the neck. Officers are treating it as murder.

Mr Matthews and Ms Brierley were long-term partners and lived together at the address, police said. They had no children.