Dead couple 'let down by system'

Mrs Goswell's body was found at her home in West Chiltington

The family of a 63-year-old woman who police think was stabbed and bludgeoned to death by her mentally ill husband have said the couple were "let down".

Sue Goswell suffered multiple stab wounds in an attack with a knife and a mallet. She was found on Sunday at the home she shared with Roger Goswell, 66.

Mr Goswell died after crashing his Smart car into a tree near their bungalow in West Chiltington, Sussex.

"We feel they were both let down by the system," the family said.

Police were first alerted to the deaths when they were called to an accident in Monkmead Lane, half a mile from the couple's home.

(Our beloved mother) was a wonderful parent, wife and friend to many The Goswell family

Mr Goswell died later in Worthing Hospital and when police went to the house they found a handwritten note, believed to be from Mr Goswell, which read "Police entry only".

The body of Mrs Goswell was found in a pool of blood and her death is being treated as murder.

Det Ch Insp Adam Hibbert said Mr Goswell had been treated in the past for mental health problems.

He said he was aware of a "number of questions" about how various agencies responded to concerns in the hours, days and weeks before the two deaths.

"I am unable to deal with these issues today, but the full facts of my investigation will be presented to the coroner in due course."

'Murder and suicide'

Mr and Mrs Goswell's children, Sarah, Joseph and Rebecca, and their son-in-law Alex, paid tribute to their "beloved mother".

"She was a wonderful parent, wife and friend to many," they said in a statement.

"Our father, Roger Goswell, was a tortured soul and, unfortunately, in the end we feel they were both let down by the system."

Mr Hibbert said it would be inappropriate while the investigation continued to give details of the treatment Mr Goswell had received for his mental health problems.

Police are investigating a murder and a suicide

"I believe we are dealing with a murder and a suicide," he said.

"At this stage, we are not seeking anyone else in connection with these deaths."

A post-mortem examination showed that Mrs Goswell, a retired hairdresser, died from multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head.

Police officers gained entry to the house via an insecure front door and were confronted with what Mr Hibbert described as a "great deal of blood".

He said detectives were keeping an open mind about the motive for the apparent murder and suicide.

Mr Goswell, a retired property developer, had had mental health problems for a number of years, Mr Hibbert said.

No suicide note had been found but examinations were continuing on the car and at the house.

A Sussex Police spokesman said there had as yet been no formal identification of the couple, who had been married for 46 years, but officers believed them to be Mr and Mrs Goswell.