Post-mortems have been carried out on an elderly couple found dead at their home in Shanklin on Monday, revealing that Mr John Irwin, 77, hanged himself from a banister after seemingly strangling his 83-year-old wife Jean to death.
As first reported by Island Echo, Police were called to an address on Albert Road at 07:10 on Monday morning where they found the bodies of a 77-year-old man and a 83-year-old woman, now confirmed to be Mr and Mrs Irwin.
At an inquest opening in Newport today (Wednesday), it has been revealed that Mr Irwin left a note on the front door telling the paper boy to go home and call the Police, stating that both Mr and Mrs Irwin were dead inside the property.
Mr John D Irwin, who had been battling cancer for over 7 years, died as a result of ligature suspension. His wife, Jean, died from neck compression. She had mild cognitive impairment, thought to be the early stages of dementia.
Police are treating Jean’s death as murder and John’s death as non-suspicious at this time. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
Investigations into the exact circumstances of the deaths are ongoing on behalf of the coroner, Caroline Sumeray, who has adjourned both inquests to 13th December 2016.
