Son hid axe from father, coroner’s inquest told

THE ERRATIC behaviour of a man who stabbed his wife to death before killing himself caused her and their son to hide an axe from him days before, an inquest heard.

Susan Ashworth, 47, was murdered by her husband, Martin, in Garforth, Leeds, 13 days after he was released from a mental health unit.

During that time the couple’s 17-year-old son Adam had retrieved an axe from the greenhouse before going with his mother to his grandparents’ house, it was said.

Mrs Ashworth’s father Bernard Cracknell claimed his daughter was “conscious of the fact there was a dangerous weapon there” and asked her parents to get rid of it.

While at her parents’ house, Mrs Ashworth called the police, an inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard.

PC Graham Meek from West Yorkshire Police, whose statement was read out by Coroner David Hinchliff, stated that on April 27 he and a colleague had been called to Mrs Ashworth’s parents’ house.

The police officer, who recorded his statement five months after the visit, recalled that she had reported Ashworth’s strange behaviour since his return from hospital – such as changing laptop passwords and hacking her computer.

PC Meek said Susan seemed “calm”, but just wanted advice and when the officers offered to approach Martin she told them it would only worsen the situation.

However, questioning the police officer during the hearing, Mrs Ashworth’s father, Bernard Cracknell disputed his claims and said his daughter was “terrified”.

Mrs Ashworth suffered stab wounds and her husband died later from injuries.

The inquest continues.