NEWS IN BRIEF

Couple ‘died from hanging’

AN inquest has heard a husband and wife found dead at their home died from hanging and suffocation.

Linsey Richard Sergeant, 72, and his wife Jane Sergeant, 71, were found by officers from Gwent Police who were called to their home in Orchid Meadows, Chepstow, on Wednesday, October 4.

It is understood that Mr Sergeant, a retired teacher, had picked up his wife from a care home in Newport to take her out for a day trip. The inquest into the couple’s death was opened at Newport Coroners’ Court yesterday.

It heard the couple were pronounced dead at the scene.

Their bodies were taken to the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, for pos-mortem examinations where it was discovered Mr Sergeant had died from hanging and Mrs Sergeant had died from smothering.

Coroner for Gwent David Bowen released the couple’s bodies to their family for funeral arrangements and adjourned the inquest for two months to allow police to continue with their enquiries.

It is not believed there was any third party involvement in the deaths.