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Hinckley deaths: Brothers were found dead 'holding hands' | Hinckley deaths: Brothers were found dead 'holding hands' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A woman says she was locked in a house, smothered and stabbed by her husband, who was found dead with their two sons. | A woman says she was locked in a house, smothered and stabbed by her husband, who was found dead with their two sons. |
David Stokes, 43, and children Adam, 11, and Matthew, five, were discovered in their home on Welwyn Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, on 2 November 2016. | David Stokes, 43, and children Adam, 11, and Matthew, five, were discovered in their home on Welwyn Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, on 2 November 2016. |
The boys were found dead under a quilt in the same bed and holding hands. | The boys were found dead under a quilt in the same bed and holding hands. |
An inquest heard that, hours before the deaths, Mr Stokes locked Sally Stokes in the house sparking a stand-off with police. | An inquest heard that, hours before the deaths, Mr Stokes locked Sally Stokes in the house sparking a stand-off with police. |
Mrs Stokes told Rutland & North Leicestershire Coroner's Court she was stabbed before she managed to escape. | |
Mr Stokes was later found dead from a single stab wound. | |
A medical cause of death for both boys has not been given but the court was told it was likely they did not die in the position they were found. | |
Mrs Stokes told the court she and Mr Stokes had been married since 2011 and separated three months before the deaths. | Mrs Stokes told the court she and Mr Stokes had been married since 2011 and separated three months before the deaths. |
In addition to the "various problems" in the marriage, Mrs Stokes said she discovered Mr Stokes had searched online for escorts and a date rape drug. | In addition to the "various problems" in the marriage, Mrs Stokes said she discovered Mr Stokes had searched online for escorts and a date rape drug. |
She said she confronted him about this on 1 November, but the situation at the time was "calm" and she left just after 18:00 GMT. | |
Mrs Stokes told the court she returned at 21:15 and, in the hours that followed, Mr Stokes locked her in the house, hit her on the back of the head with a rolling pin and tried to smother her with a pillow. | |
She said she got to the back garden and screamed for help before Mr Stokes hit her head against a wall. | She said she got to the back garden and screamed for help before Mr Stokes hit her head against a wall. |
The inquest was told police were called and there were regular phone calls between negotiators and Mr Stokes before he stabbed her and she ran out into the street. | The inquest was told police were called and there were regular phone calls between negotiators and Mr Stokes before he stabbed her and she ran out into the street. |
She said: "I felt a bump in my back, felt the warmth of blood, then I realised he'd stabbed me. | She said: "I felt a bump in my back, felt the warmth of blood, then I realised he'd stabbed me. |
"The look on his face was like satisfaction. I'll never forget it - as though he'd won." | "The look on his face was like satisfaction. I'll never forget it - as though he'd won." |
Mrs Stokes was taken to hospital and told the following day about her sons and that Mr Stokes had killed himself. | Mrs Stokes was taken to hospital and told the following day about her sons and that Mr Stokes had killed himself. |
Finishing her evidence, Mrs Stokes said she felt police acted in the right way during the stand-off. | Finishing her evidence, Mrs Stokes said she felt police acted in the right way during the stand-off. |
"If police had forced the situation, I wouldn't be here," she said. | "If police had forced the situation, I wouldn't be here," she said. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |