Man, 70, ‘murdered his wife at marital home before killing himself by driving into tree’ in suspected murder-suicide in rural Somerset village
It is understood that the man and woman who died in separate incidents were married
A MAN is suspected of having murdered his wife before getting into his car and fatally smashing into a tree.
The tragic couple have been named locally as Ann Furneaux, 70, and her 74-year-old husband Edward.
Neighbours speculated that Mrs Furneaux had been ill for some time and could have been the victim of an assisted suicide.
One female neighbour, who did not wish to be named, also told how police forensic teams had been searching the couple's detached 70s property for evidence.
She said: "All I know is the lady was very ill and she is now dead.
"Her husband was found dead in a car up against a tree in the woods.
"They are treating it as murder investigation. They have been going round all the drains looking for the murder weapon.
"It was either a murder or an assisted suicide, that's what we are thinking.
"They have taken away a mattress and bags with all the bedding and clothing.
"They had a camper van and they used to go off with bicycles on the back. They were a very close couple.
"Apparently they took the body away on Friday. There has been a police presence 24/7."
Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "As far as I'm aware, a guy smashed into a tree on the Kewstoke Road, so the police came round to the family to say he passed away and they found the front door open and his other half was found dead inside.
"He's obviously killed his wife, dashed down there and smashed himself into a tree at some 60mph I understand."
Officers were called to the scene at 8am yesterday where a 70-year-old man was found in a vehicle while the body of a woman was found an hour later in nearby Worle.
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Pamela Price, who was at the crash scene, wrote on Facebook: "Sorry we couldn't do more.
"Attended the scene after hearing a loud crash.
"All of us there tried our best and ambulance took 30 mins to arrive. My thoughts and love go to all who held him dear.
"May he now rest peacefully."
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police told The Sun Online: "We’ve launched a murder investigation following the death of a woman in Worle.
"The body of a woman was found in a house on Pilgrims Way at 9.30am on Thursday.
"We are linking this incident to a fatal road traffic collision on Kewstoke Road which took place at 8am the same day.
"A man, aged 70, died at the scene as a result of the injuries he sustained after his car was in collision with a tree.
"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder investigation.
"Our enquires are continuing and our thoughts remain with the family of those who have died."
Last week in a separate case a teenage boy has been charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Leonne Weeks.
days after Leonne’s body was found with “serious stab wounds” on an isolated pathway in Rotherham, South Yorks, last Monday morning.
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