An inquest has opened into the death of a man who died in a suspected "murder-suicide".
Richard Leishman, 64, was found dead along with his partner Helen Barlow, 54, at a house in North Shields, North Tyneside, in August last year.
Following their deaths, police revealed that they were treating the case as a suspected "murder-suicide". Officers said Helen had suffered injuries "consistent with an assault" while Richard appeared to have self-inflicted wounds.
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On Wednesday morning, an inquest was opened into Richard's death at Newcastle Coroner's Court. The short hearing heard how he lived at The Quadrant in North Shields and died at the address on August 8 last year.
The court heard how a post mortem examination was carried out on Richard's body by forensic pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper on August 9 last year. A suggested cause of death was strangulation.
Senior Coroner Georgina Nolan told the hearing: "I note the circumstances. Mr Leishman has been confirmed dead at his property along with his partner Helen Barlow and a number of notes were found at the property.
"There's a number of circumstances to be explored at the inquest. With that in mind, I'm adjourning the inquest to conclude on the 11th August 2023 at 10am."
An inquest into Helen's death was opened at Newcastle Coroner's Court last month.
During the hearing on June 7, Assistant Coroner Karin Welsh said: "The situation is that Mrs Barlow's death has been the subject of an investigation by Northumbria Police."
She said the perpetrator of an assault, that has resulted in her death, has also been the subject of an investigation.
The coroner adjourned her inquest so the investigating officer in the case and the pathologist could attend. It is set to take place on August 14 at 1pm.
Chronicle Live previously reported how Helen's heartbroken sister Louise Jessop had set up a Just Giving page in her memory.
In a post on the fundraising page, she said: "Helen's death was untimely and unjust. It has left a hole in our world that will never be filled, along with many thoughts and feelings that are difficult to cope with."
