Romeo and Juliet couple killed themselves in suicide pact

A couple put the film version of Romeo and Juliet on the television and signed a note as the star-crossed lovers before killing themselves in a suicide pact, an inquest was told.

Alphira and Christopher Stonehouse, aged 27 and 44, were found in their bedroom in Whyke Marsh, Chichester, on the morning of November 8 last year.

The couple, who had recently moved to the city from Haywards Heath, wrote: "Unless you are the emergency services, do not enter. Alphira and Chris, aka Romeo and Juliet."

Detective Sergeant Sally Arbuckle, who saw the note, also told the inquest in Chichester how a television had been showing Romeo and Juliet and a passage from the Shakespearean tragedy was highlighted.

A post-mortem examination on Mrs Stonehouse – who was her husband's full-time carer – found she died from fatal toxicity of drugs.

The night before they died Mr Stonehouse sent mental health worker Damian Walsh a text message in which he disclosed their intention to end their lives.

It read: "Alphira and I have chosen to end our lives. We have suffered for too long and cannot bear it any longer. Our backdoor and gate are unlocked."

But Mr Walsh’s told the inquest he did not see the message or that he missed calls from Mr Stonehouse until around 9am the following morning, when he was scheduled to see him.

Concerned at the message, Mr Walsh said he first tried to call Mr Stonehouse but it diverted to voicemail, then sent him a text message but again failed to get a reply.

Police were eventually alerted and the couple, who married in 2005 and had been in regular contact with mental health professionals, were found dead in their two-bedroom home.

Mrs Stonehouse's mother, Deborah Jacobs, questioned why the text message revealing the suicidal intentions of the couple was not acted upon sooner.

Suicide verdicts were reached for both Alphira and Chris Stonehouse.

If you are thinking about suicide you should: