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| Murder-suicide of Devon couple came after wife sought divorce, inquest hears | Murder-suicide of Devon couple came after wife sought divorce, inquest hears |
| (5 months later) | |
| Coroner rules Nicola Beck, 52, was unlawfully killed by her husband, Michael Beck, 62, who then killed himself | |
| Steven Morris and agency | |
| Fri 25 Aug 2017 17.53 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 17.58 GMT | |
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| A retired stockbroker bludgeoned his wife to death in the early hours of New Year’s Day at their million-pound rural home after she asked for a divorce, an inquest has heard. | A retired stockbroker bludgeoned his wife to death in the early hours of New Year’s Day at their million-pound rural home after she asked for a divorce, an inquest has heard. |
| Michael Beck posted a letter to his family confessing he had killed Nicola Beck, then disposed of the weapon, believed to be a heavy tool, before killing himself in a barn. | Michael Beck posted a letter to his family confessing he had killed Nicola Beck, then disposed of the weapon, believed to be a heavy tool, before killing himself in a barn. |
| He wrote in the letter: “By the time you read this I will have killed Nicola and killed myself.” He said he was sorry the marriage had ended in “a grubby fashion”, adding he had spent his whole life fighting over money. | He wrote in the letter: “By the time you read this I will have killed Nicola and killed myself.” He said he was sorry the marriage had ended in “a grubby fashion”, adding he had spent his whole life fighting over money. |
| He urged his family to carry out his will to the letter, saying he wanted them to be “utterly ruthless, merciless and heartless”, as he claimed his wife’s family had been to him. | He urged his family to carry out his will to the letter, saying he wanted them to be “utterly ruthless, merciless and heartless”, as he claimed his wife’s family had been to him. |
| A coroner ruled that Nicola Beck, 52, was unlawfully killed and that Beck, 62, killed himself. | A coroner ruled that Nicola Beck, 52, was unlawfully killed and that Beck, 62, killed himself. |
| The assistant Devon coroner, Lydia Brown, said: “It would seem Michael was unable to contemplate a divorce. He was no way financially challenged, but it was his obvious financial obsession that was the motive for his wife’s brutal and merciless killing.” | The assistant Devon coroner, Lydia Brown, said: “It would seem Michael was unable to contemplate a divorce. He was no way financially challenged, but it was his obvious financial obsession that was the motive for his wife’s brutal and merciless killing.” |
| An entry in Nicola Beck’s electronic diary in mid-October 2016 said her husband was distressed after she had told him she wanted a divorce. She wrote that he had said she would not get half his wealth. | An entry in Nicola Beck’s electronic diary in mid-October 2016 said her husband was distressed after she had told him she wanted a divorce. She wrote that he had said she would not get half his wealth. |
| Nicola Beck, an acupuncturist, also spoke to a stranger about her relationship on a guided walk last year, the inquest heard. She said she wanted her marriage of 25 years to end and explained that the couple’s main home was a £2m property in Chelsea, west London, but she had little idea of their finances. | Nicola Beck, an acupuncturist, also spoke to a stranger about her relationship on a guided walk last year, the inquest heard. She said she wanted her marriage of 25 years to end and explained that the couple’s main home was a £2m property in Chelsea, west London, but she had little idea of their finances. |
| Patricia Gower, a solicitor, said she met Michael Beck in December 2016 to talk about divorce. She said he did not want to split up from his wife and hoped for an amicable outcome. | Patricia Gower, a solicitor, said she met Michael Beck in December 2016 to talk about divorce. She said he did not want to split up from his wife and hoped for an amicable outcome. |
| His brother-in-law, Hugo Peel, told the inquest that Beck was a gentle man. Peel said: “He had a sort of hope in his heart that he could repair the damage. He was not a violent man, quite the opposite. | His brother-in-law, Hugo Peel, told the inquest that Beck was a gentle man. Peel said: “He had a sort of hope in his heart that he could repair the damage. He was not a violent man, quite the opposite. |
| “He was not courageous in social interaction or dealing with issues. He would walk away from confrontation, he felt unequipped to deal with confrontation.” | “He was not courageous in social interaction or dealing with issues. He would walk away from confrontation, he felt unequipped to deal with confrontation.” |
| Andrew Rowe, of Devon and Cornwall police, said there was no evidence of third-party involvement. He said the weapon may have been disposed of in a wheelie bin collected before police arrived at the couple’s home near Honiton in east Devon. | Andrew Rowe, of Devon and Cornwall police, said there was no evidence of third-party involvement. He said the weapon may have been disposed of in a wheelie bin collected before police arrived at the couple’s home near Honiton in east Devon. |
| Rowe added that Beck had left paperwork and keys in the farmhouse and had put his affairs in order before killing himself. | Rowe added that Beck had left paperwork and keys in the farmhouse and had put his affairs in order before killing himself. |
| In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. | In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. |
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