A coroner has concluded that a jeweller who killed his wife with a hammer before taking his own life was suffering from a psychotic episode, likely triggered by him stopping his prescribed medication.
A Loving Family Shattered by Tragedy
Christopher Stone-Houghton, 66, and his wife Ruth, 60, were found dead at their home in Portsmouth on 14 September 2022. Mrs Stone-Houghton had sustained multiple head wounds, with a claw hammer discovered beside her. Her husband had died by hanging.
The couple's children, Oliver, 30, and Abbie, 28, told the inquest they hold no blame for their father. In a poignant statement, they said: "They should be with us here today, enjoying their first granddaughter and looking forward to the birth of another grandchild in the New Year." They described their parents' 32-year marriage as "loving and happy".
A Rapid Mental Health Decline and 'Surprise' Release
The inquest heard that Mr Stone-Houghton's mental state deteriorated rapidly after his high street jewellery business, which had traded for nearly 50 years, was forced to close in April 2022 due to pressures from the Covid pandemic.
He became increasingly anxious and manic, leading to a crisis in July 2022 where he violently self-harmed at the family home, resulting in him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Coroner Rachel Spearing noted that by late May, Ruth was "not coping with the shocking change in Chris's anxious and paranoid behaviour".
After showing signs of improvement, he was discharged from a psychiatric hospital in August 2022, less than two months before the deaths. The coroner stated all indicators suggested a positive recovery, with him complying with medication and showing hope for the future.
However, a toxicology report later revealed he had not been taking his medication prior to the tragedy. A note found at the scene contained paranoid delusions, with Mr Stone-Houghton claiming his wife had "planned all this and drugged me".
Systemic Failings and a Call for National Change
Coroner Rachel Spearing accepted psychiatric evidence that, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Stone-Houghton experienced a further psychotic episode on the morning of the deaths. She ruled his release from hospital was "unsafe due to an inadequate risk assessment", though she did not find this directly causative of the deaths.
The inquest also highlighted concerning gaps in communication. Police had contacted Mr Stone-Houghton's GP about firearms he legally owned, but the doctor did not reply after hearing the guns had been handed in. The coroner noted the lack of a mandatory requirement for a GP to notify police of such concerns was worrying.
Oliver and Abbie Stone-Houghton said the inquest had been "retraumatising", exposing evidence of "disjointed care, inaction, inadequate risk assessments and missed opportunities". They stated directly to Health Secretary Wes Streeting: "This inquest has exposed serious failings in the provision of mental health services... The lack of care our Mum and Dad received was not an isolated or local incident."
They are now awaiting the coroner's rulings on Prevention of Future Deaths reports, hoping for national reform. Oliver told the BBC: "We don't need to forgive him. I never once questioned that it was anything other than his illness."
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support.
