Ex-husband stabbed his wife of 40 years then gassed them both to death after she tried to leave him

A JEALOUS husband brutally stabbed his estranged wife, before they both died after he flooded the property with poisonous gas, an inquest heard.

The bodies of Jane McCartney, 59, and Graham McCartney, 63, were found shortly after she had decided to end their 40-year marriage.

The former soldier viciously attacked her with a knife when they were discussing their divorce at the posh detached £500,000 bungalow in Dalwood, Devon.

Before meeting Mr McCartney filled the home with lethal gas after attaching a car exhaust through a window.

She battled to fight him off but succumbed to the fumes.

Their bodies were later discovered by a prospective buyer looking around the property.

Assistant coroner Luisa Nicholson recorded a verdict of suicide for Mr McCartney and death by unlawful killing for Mrs McCartney.

The couple's son George told the inquest today in Exeter, Devon, how he was concerned his father had been contemplating suicide following their break up of their long marriage.

The inquest heard his father sent him a letter containing financial details and a note saying to call the police and stay away from his grandfather's house.

It read: "I can't stand the humiliation anymore.

"Look after your sister.

"I'm sorry."

Mrs McCartney had been found wrapped in a duvet and the fumes in the property were described as "overwhelming".

Two knives were also located and there were "signs of an altercation" - with cushions and a smashed photo frame on the floor.

Delivering her verdicts, Ms Nicholson said : "We will never know what precipitated the vicious attack on Mrs McCartney.

"It appears he simply could not deal with his wife wanting to start a life without him.

"This is a double tragedy and no doubt heartbreaking and utterly incomprehensible to the parties involved.

"We will never know the full story of what happened that day."

A post mortem revealed they had both died from carbon monoxide poisoning while her stab wounds "contributed to her death" and were consistent with her trying to protect herself.

Friends said the couple's relationship had struggled in the time leading up to their death, with frequent arguments and Mrs McCartney eventually leaving her husband.

Mr McCartney, who had served in the army and owned a string of garages, was described as a "private person" who suffered from bouts of depression

The couple had been living apart when they were found dead, with Mrs McCartney staying at her father's home.

The inquest heard neither Mr or Mrs McCartney, who had two children together, had a history of mental health illness.

But friend Margaret Evans said: "She said she couldn't feel she could have a conversation with a man on the high street and if Graham saw that, he would be so angry she felt he could almost kill her in his rage."

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368