Ex-charity chief stabbed and wife critical after a ‘domestic incident’
A FORMER Age UK chief and his wife were in hospital last night after both were seriously injured in a domestic incident at their £1.5million home.
Scotland Yard was investigating how pensioners’ campaigner Mervyn Kohler had suffered stab wounds and his wife Elizabeth had sustained life-threatening injuries.
The couple, both 71, were described as lovely people and pillars of their community in Dalston, north-east London.
But neighbours saw the pair being stretchered out of the three-storey townhouse onWednesday after police and ambulance crews raced there.
Officers initially thought both had been stabbed but said later that only Mr Kohler – whose injuries are not thought to be life-threatening – had.
Mr Kohler had retired from Age UK two months ago after a 35-year career which saw him rise to head of public affairs, then special adviser.
He had spoken on pensions, fuel bills, health and offensive language used to describe senior citizens.
An Age UK spokesman said: “Mervyn was a valued colleague.We are deeply distressed by the news.”
Neighbours said the couple were both active at a local church and Mrs Kohler was in theWomen’s Institute.
One said: “She has a heart of gold.
They’re both so well liked. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Local Dariusz Zych, said: “He seemed to be in a bad condition, walking slowly and sometimes stopping to catch his breath.
“I would take the mail and parcels in for them. Sometimes they brought round strawberries to us.”
A Met spokesman said: “There have been no arrests.The matter is being treated as a domestic incident.The woman was unresponsive. Her condition is life-threatening.”