MAN STRANGLED WIFE THEN CALLED 999 TO CONFESS, INQUEST HEARS

Anthony Buxton called 999 to confess to killing his wife before taking his own life, an inquest at Cornwall Coroner's Court in Truro heard on Tuesday. Mr Buxton, 71, strangled his wife, Michelle, 69, at their home in Camelford on 24 September last year. During the emergency call, a female voice was heard groaning and saying "help", whilst a male voice said "I've done it, no one can stop me, I've killed her", according to a written statement from PC Jacob Double, one of the first officers at the scene. Police forced entry to the property and found both the couple unresponsive with fatal injuries; both were pronounced dead shortly after.

Post-mortem examinations established that Michelle Buxton died from compression of the neck, whilst Anthony Buxton died from a stab wound to his chest. The inquest heard that Anthony Buxton's mental health had deteriorated significantly in the months preceding the incident. The couple's son, Daniel, told the inquest that his father had become unusually quiet and increasingly paranoid. Daniel described how his mother appeared to be struggling as his father grew anxious, defensive and unwilling to share information.

Daniel explained that the family had installed CCTV cameras in the house because his father held beliefs about an organised crime gang targeting him and having access to the property. He said his father believed the house had been bugged with microphones and cameras, and that his family were in danger. The inquest heard that this anxiety appeared to be an attempt by Anthony Buxton to assuage his own fears about these perceived threats.