Dad strangled wife to death before killing himself as two-year-old son slept
A young dad strangled his wife to death before hanging himself while their two-year-old son lay sleeping in his cot, an inquest heard.
Kiril Nemcev, 32, attacked Lana Nemceva, 33, after the pair argued about her mother moving in with them to help look after the child.
Their lodger made the ‘most unpleasant discoveries’ when he arrived back at the home in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, late on September 4 last year.
The inquest at South Staffordshire Coroners Court heard that Kiril was found unresponsive in the hallway, while his wife’s lifeless body lay on the bathroom floor.
They had moved to the town from Latvia, with Kiril getting a job as a chef at Pizza Express and Lana working at a Boots opticians in the town centre.
But Lana’s mother moving in ‘put pressure on the relationship, certainly from Kiril’s point of view’ and ‘news of her mother returning’ from a visit to her homeland ‘was the escalation’ which led to the row, the inquest was told
Kiril was also said to have had issues with anxiety for which he had sought medical advice and been prescribed medication.
The detective leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Dan Ison, said phone records showed that the relationship had ‘broken down’ by the night of their deaths and there had been research into divorce and separation.
He told the court Kiril had a ‘superficial’ stab wound to his stomach which he believed may have been inflicted by his wife before he throttled her.
DCI Ison explained: ‘The hypothesis I’m working on is that [the stab wound] is from the knife that was recovered from the bathroom near to where Lana’s body was found.
‘It is my belief that it was potentially Lana that may have inflicted that injury on Kiril.
‘Based on forensic assessment it my belief that Kiril is likely responsible for Lana’s death.’
The inquest was read a report on behalf of consultant pathologist Charlotte Randall.
She said: ‘The post mortem examination showed in Mrs Nemceva’s case there was evidence of compression of the neck or strangulation.
‘Whatever the method or combination of methods used there was little doubt that the pressure on Lana Nemceva had been sufficiently forceful and prolonged to result in her death.’
Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh said the deaths were ‘very sad’.
He said: ‘It’s clear from the evidence I’ve heard that there were difficulties in the relationship between Kiril and Lana and indeed there had been some research or enquiries about divorce.
‘I also accept that Kiril did have some psychiatric problems.
‘On September 4 last year Lana’s mother is in Latvia, the lodger is at work during the day but he comes home late that evening. He makes the most unpleasant discoveries.’
He added: ‘Their baby was alive in the cot. Police conclusions are that it’s likely there was an altercation. That Lana has stabbed Kiril but then Kiril has strangled Lana and then Kiril has hanged himself.’
The coroner offered his condolences to their families, adding: ‘I’m sorry that Kiril and Lana have come to this country to work and I’m sorry that their lives should end here in such a tragic manner.’
He recorded a verdict of unlawful killing in Lana’s case and in the case of her husband he recorded a verdict of suicide while mentally unwell.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.