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Man had wife's body for 10 weeks | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man lived with his wife's dead body in their Hampshire house for more than 10 weeks before contacting police, an inquest heard. | |
David Pyatt, 59, tried to kill himself several times after making the discovery at their home in Bramble Walk, Lymington, on 4 September 2008. | David Pyatt, 59, tried to kill himself several times after making the discovery at their home in Bramble Walk, Lymington, on 4 September 2008. |
His attempts failed and he said he had then "gone to bed for five weeks". | His attempts failed and he said he had then "gone to bed for five weeks". |
He said he eventually "recuperated" and called police who discovered 54-year-old Yvonne Pyatt's body on 17 November. | He said he eventually "recuperated" and called police who discovered 54-year-old Yvonne Pyatt's body on 17 November. |
He told the police operator his wife had killed herself and added: "Really for four or five weeks after that I stayed with her and now I have recuperated a bit and I need to sort it out." | He told the police operator his wife had killed herself and added: "Really for four or five weeks after that I stayed with her and now I have recuperated a bit and I need to sort it out." |
Electric cable | Electric cable |
The hearing at Southampton heard that the house was "spotless" when officers arrived and Mr Pyatt told them he had been vacuuming and had cleaned his wife's body. | The hearing at Southampton heard that the house was "spotless" when officers arrived and Mr Pyatt told them he had been vacuuming and had cleaned his wife's body. |
Mr Pyatt was arrested by police and questioned for two days on suspicion of aiding a suicide. | Mr Pyatt was arrested by police and questioned for two days on suspicion of aiding a suicide. |
He told officers he tried to kill himself by throwing an electric cable into a bath and by hanging himself, but failed. | He told officers he tried to kill himself by throwing an electric cable into a bath and by hanging himself, but failed. |
Mr and Mrs Pyatt moved to Lymington six years ago and were living off their savings, but after a few years the money ran out and Mrs Pyatt became depressed. | Mr and Mrs Pyatt moved to Lymington six years ago and were living off their savings, but after a few years the money ran out and Mrs Pyatt became depressed. |
On 4 September she hanged herself with a washing line from the doorframe of an upstairs bedroom. | On 4 September she hanged herself with a washing line from the doorframe of an upstairs bedroom. |
He had clearly just frozen into inactivity when his wife's death occurred Coroner Keith Wiseman | He had clearly just frozen into inactivity when his wife's death occurred Coroner Keith Wiseman |
Officers discovered a note signed by them both, which hinted that there had been a suicide pact between the couple. | Officers discovered a note signed by them both, which hinted that there had been a suicide pact between the couple. |
It read: "Sorry about the mess we are leaving but we did not have any choice." | It read: "Sorry about the mess we are leaving but we did not have any choice." |
But Det Sgt Rob Spall said Mr Pyatt claimed he had signed the letter later. | But Det Sgt Rob Spall said Mr Pyatt claimed he had signed the letter later. |
"From his account his intention was to kill himself after she died but he did not carry that through," Det Sgt Spall said. | "From his account his intention was to kill himself after she died but he did not carry that through," Det Sgt Spall said. |
He explained that Mr Pyatt had no significant mental health issues which had caused him to live with his wife's body and there had not been any foul play. | He explained that Mr Pyatt had no significant mental health issues which had caused him to live with his wife's body and there had not been any foul play. |
Det Sgt Spall said: "There is no sinister motive to it. | Det Sgt Spall said: "There is no sinister motive to it. |
"Mr Pyatt lost almost everything with his wife's death and that perhaps led him not to want to let go of her, to lose the body." | "Mr Pyatt lost almost everything with his wife's death and that perhaps led him not to want to let go of her, to lose the body." |
Recording a verdict of suicide, Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said the circumstances of the death were unusual. | Recording a verdict of suicide, Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said the circumstances of the death were unusual. |
He said: "He had clearly just frozen into inactivity when his wife's death occurred through the shock of what happened. | He said: "He had clearly just frozen into inactivity when his wife's death occurred through the shock of what happened. |
"It must have been a quite extraordinary experience and one difficult to recover from." | "It must have been a quite extraordinary experience and one difficult to recover from." |