‘We don’t blame dad for killing mum, he was ill’

The children of a man who killed his wife in a psychotic episode before taking his own life have told the BBC they do not blame their father for what happened.

Chris and Ruth Stone-Houghton died in September 2022 at their home in Portsmouth.

The investigation found the family “failed to be fully supported” after Chris was discharged from a mental hospital weeks earlier.

Their son Oliver said: “We don’t need to forgive him. I never doubted that it was anything other than his illness.”

Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust said it had “learned from this case” to improve care for patients in mental health crises and their families.

According to Oliver and Abby Stone-Houghton, Chris and Ruth were loving and caring parents and were devoted to each other.

“We had such a brilliant childhood and even into adulthood we were so close to both of them,” Abby explained.

Chris ran a jewelry business where Ruth also worked. He had no previous history of mental health problems, but as the company struggled during the Covid pandemic and eventually closed in April 2022, he began to experience delusional thoughts.

He became increasingly paranoid, mistakenly believing that his phone and computer were being tapped, and fearing that someone was out to get him. He became withdrawn, looked noticeably weaker and had thoughts of suicide.

“He felt he had nothing more to offer,” recalled his son Oliver, now 30.

Chris was eventually diagnosed with psychotic depression and attempted suicide in July 2022.

He was admitted to the mental health unit at St James's Hospital in Portsmouth, run by a local NHS trust, where the family expects he will spend several months.

After four weeks he was discharged home against his family's wishes. Ruth was “terrified” her husband would harm himself further, the inquest heard.

The fact that they were a loving family worked against them, Oliver said, believing the staff felt “they didn't have to worry as much about him coming home as they might have in other cases.”

“We didn't really get any advice on what to do or what not to do,” Abby said. “We just did what we thought was right and just hoped for the best.”

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Denzel Mitchell, who worked at St James's Hospital, said the decision to discharge was made largely because Mr Stone-Houghton had not self-harmed and had no psychotic episodes on the ward.

Coroner Rachel Spearing found that while the decision was “adequate”, the way it was implemented was “unsafe” with “inadequate risk assessment”.

Chris had previously refused antipsychotic medication at home and had to be persuaded to take it in hospital, but this had not been adequately addressed. The family had not received full support given the burden placed on them to ensure he took his medication, Ms Spearing added.

She found it was “unlikely” he was taking medication at the time of death.

The investigation said there was also a lack of access to support. Chris did not receive psychological help in the hospital because there was no psychologist in the room.

Back home, Chris was asked twice by his community crisis team to pursue early intervention for psychosis, which is the best and fastest option available, but was denied.

Chris was 66 years old, and the NHS Foundation Trust age of separation was 65.

“If he had undergone this treatment, we don't know what would have happened,” Oliver said.

Instead, Chris was placed on a year-long waiting list to receive specialized talk therapy.

The plan was for the family to alert the crisis team if they saw signs of a relapse, the inquest heard, but there was no formal assessment of the carer of Ruth, 60, who looked after her husband.

On 14 September 2022, Chris killed Ruth at their family home in Portsmouth and then took his own life.. Coroner Rachel Spearing concluded he was “probably in the throes of a psychotic episode”.

She said the death could not have been predicted and that Chris and Ruth were a “loving and happy” couple.

Oliver and Abbie said they were “extremely close” as a family and do not hold their father responsible for what happened.

“We both feel very strongly and know in our hearts,” said Oliver, “that [dad] was not capable of this as a sane, reasonable person, and that it was illness that caused these events to happen in this way.

“We don't let it affect our memories of both of them.”

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare Trust said in a statement it offered “our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ruth and Christopher.”

It added: “We have learned from this and other cases to continually improve the way we care for and support people in mental health crisis and their families.”

If you are affected by any of the issues described in this article, support is available from the organizations listed BBC Action Line.