This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/berkshire/8340808.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Suicide letter couple found dead | Suicide letter couple found dead |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A Berkshire couple who sent a suicide letter to the BBC criticising UK laws on assisted dying have been found dead. | |
| Dennis and Flora Milner, aged 83 and 81, were found dead in their home in Newbury on Sunday, police confirmed. | Dennis and Flora Milner, aged 83 and 81, were found dead in their home in Newbury on Sunday, police confirmed. |
| A letter and statement saying they had "chosen to peacefully end our lives" was delivered to BBC South on Tuesday. | A letter and statement saying they had "chosen to peacefully end our lives" was delivered to BBC South on Tuesday. |
| They said they wanted to highlight the "serious human dilemma" which prevents people from legally ending their own lives with loved ones around them. | They said they wanted to highlight the "serious human dilemma" which prevents people from legally ending their own lives with loved ones around them. |
| Mr and Mrs Milner's daughter Chrissy said her parents had been in good health but did not want to get to a stage were they would be too ill to care for themselves. | Mr and Mrs Milner's daughter Chrissy said her parents had been in good health but did not want to get to a stage were they would be too ill to care for themselves. |
| She said they had told her: "We won't be here for Christmas." | She said they had told her: "We won't be here for Christmas." |
| We have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right - to terminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with our loved ones around us Dennis and Flora Milner | We have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right - to terminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with our loved ones around us Dennis and Flora Milner |
| Their statement, sent to the BBC and headlined "a personal critical self assessment", appeared to be signed by both husband and wife. | Their statement, sent to the BBC and headlined "a personal critical self assessment", appeared to be signed by both husband and wife. |
| It read: "We have been fortunate to have lived through and enjoyed 80 plus years of a happy, loving and exciting life. | It read: "We have been fortunate to have lived through and enjoyed 80 plus years of a happy, loving and exciting life. |
| "It would be impossible to thank all the people and organisations which every day, without fail, have contributed to our lifespan. | "It would be impossible to thank all the people and organisations which every day, without fail, have contributed to our lifespan. |
| "There's just one outstanding [group] which we think everyone would go along with, the medical profession and the NHS in which they serve. They have usefully extended our lives by at least 25-30 years. | "There's just one outstanding [group] which we think everyone would go along with, the medical profession and the NHS in which they serve. They have usefully extended our lives by at least 25-30 years. |
| "We leave this life with just one serious and disappointing criticism of our society. | "We leave this life with just one serious and disappointing criticism of our society. |
| "Today we have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right - to terminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with our loved ones around us, without anyone having to face any legal possibilities or harassment." | "Today we have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right - to terminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with our loved ones around us, without anyone having to face any legal possibilities or harassment." |
| 'Not suspicious' | 'Not suspicious' |
| A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We were called to an address in Enborne Road at 9am on the 1 November. | A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We were called to an address in Enborne Road at 9am on the 1 November. |
| "There were two unexplained deaths, they are not thought to be suspicious." | "There were two unexplained deaths, they are not thought to be suspicious." |
| He confirmed the dead pair had been identified as Dennis and Flora Milner. | He confirmed the dead pair had been identified as Dennis and Flora Milner. |
| An initial post-mortem examination has been carried out but further toxicology tests were needed to confirm how they died, he said. | An initial post-mortem examination has been carried out but further toxicology tests were needed to confirm how they died, he said. |
| A spokesperson for the West Berkshire Coroner said the couple's family had been told. | A spokesperson for the West Berkshire Coroner said the couple's family had been told. |