A heartbroken husband shot himself with a shotgun after stabbing his wife, an inquest heard.

Self employed decorator Stephen Knock, 47, of Ightham Close, Main Road, Longfield, took his own life after putting his gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger, on July 28 this year.

He had done so after attacking his wife Amaya Knock with a kitchen knife.

The incident took place in a two bedroom flat the couple owned in Esparto Way, South Darenth, the inquest at Gravesend Old Town Hall was told, this afternoon.

Shortly before the tragic incident Mrs Knock had told her husband that she wanted to end their seven year marriage.

He was very upset by this and had told a colleague he had “not been sleeping” since the news.

Mr Knock was due to move into the flat but had told his workmate he did not want to, as it meant he would be “away from his family”.

The couple had a six-year-old daughter together.

On the day of the attack, Mr Knock was moving furniture into the property.

Reading information given to him by Mrs Knock, detective sergeant Richard Pringle said that after the stabbing Mr Knock suggested the couple kill themselves.

DS Pringle said, Mr Knock said to his wife: “‘What have I done, what have I done? Shall we go together?’ “But Mrs Knock replied ‘No, what about the baby?”

The inquest heard how Mrs Knock then grabbed a phone and walked out of the flat while trying to ring 999.

As she walked down the stairs she saw her husband walk in the flat with his shotgun.

When she reached the car park, other residents came to her aid.

DS Pringle said that resident Victor Maderia had described her as “looking like a zombie" when she "staggered across the car park”.

Mr Madeira had also heard a “quiet voice” saying “help me, help me.”

DS Pringle said: “He couldn’t see where the blood was coming from but there was lots of blood.

“He was informed that Mrs Knock had been stabbed by her ex.”

The emergency services were called and Mrs Knock was placed in an ambulance.

It was during the journey to hospital that Mrs Knock spoke to paramedic Samantha Rea about what had happened.

DS Pringle said: “Mrs Knock told her ‘he stabbed me in the back with a kitchen knife. He’s never been violent with me before.”

Despite her injuries, Mrs Knock survived the attack and has since started to rebuild her life with her daughter.

DS Pringle said the conclusion of the police was that Mr Knock had tried to kill his wife.

North Kent Coroner Roger Hatch said: “It is clear that the only conclusion that I can reach is that Stephen Knock took his own life.”