Husband stabbed himself to death after killing wife

ACOMMERCIAL fisherman stabbed his wife to death before killing himself – a day after being freed from a police cell following an earlier domestic incident.

Neil Harman stabbed himself 33 times as he died next to his wife Elaine in their home in Polperro, Cornwall on August 6 last year.

An inquest held in Truro heard how the 57-year-old had been arrested two days before the deaths following an allegation that he assaulted Elaine, 49. He was kept in custody overnight but was released the next day with conditions that he must not contact Elaine or go to their home.

Detective Constable Rachel Harris told the inquest that, on the day of the deaths, Neil Harman spoke to his grown-up son about collecting some of his possessions from the family home and delivering them to him so he would not break his bail conditions. He told his son that he was running a little late but police later discovered he was already very close to Polperro after driving there in his Land Rover. He forced his way into their locked home where he attacked his wife.

Home Office pathologist Dr Deborah Cook said Harman inflicted 23 knife wounds around his own neck, four to his chest and six to his right hand. She told the senior Cornwall coroner Andrew Cox that it was “an unusual case” and that Harman died from blood loss from the incised wounds to his neck and chest.

Harman’s father Antony told the coroner that Elaine was a “lovely lady” and they were in a “secure marriage” with no domestic issues before this day.

He said Neil “loved his wife” and family and did “everything for them”. But he said the medication Neil was taking for his rheumatoid arthritis “made his head so bad”.

Antony Harman told the inquest: “He would not lash out but he found himself holding his hands up to the side of his head and gritting his teeth.”

He said his son had told him he felt Elaine was being secretive on her phone and hiding her phone from him. Anthony added: “I said he should not be suspicious about Elaine’s motive for secrecy.”

He said he was in “complete disbelief ” and he could not understand what had happened when he was told about their deaths.

One of Harman’s grown up sons from a previous marriage, also called Antony, said Elaine had hurt her arm in the alleged assault and his dad said she was “laying it on thick”.

He said the couple had an argument and Harman tried to give her a cuddle but she was not having any of it – and she hit her arm when she fell over as she tried to stand up. Harman told his son: “I don’t know if there is more to it, or if someone else is involved.”

His son said: “I tried to reassure him not to think like that, that no one else was involved. He said he was not easy to live with and was struggling with anxiety and depression.”

Harman’s GP said no mental health issues were recorded but Harman was stressed and anxious.

Coroner Andrew Cox said that Harman went to the family home where there was a “significant disagreement between Neil and Elaine and matters escalated very quickly” and he “stabbed Elaine repeatedly and killed her.”

Mr Cox said in 15 years as a coroner he has never known someone self-inflict wounds to the extent that Neil Harman did.

He praised the courage of the police who did all they could to try to save Elaine.

Mr Cox recorded a suicide conclusion.

An inquest will be held at a later date into Elaine’s death.