Man, 70, ‘murdered his wife at marital home before killing himself by driving into tree’ in suspected murder-suicide in rural Somerset village

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.

Pamela Price, who was at the crash scene, wrote on Facebook: "Sorry we couldn't do more.