AN INQUEST into the deaths of a father and son from Paddock Wood has confirmed the initial suspicions of the police. Richard Morley, 76, was found dead with stab wounds at the home he shared with his son Terence in St Andrew's Road in August. The body of his son was found hanging from the stairs.

After hearing evidence at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court, coroner Roger Hatch returned a verdict of unlawful killing on Mr Morley senior and ruled that Terence Morley had taken his own life. The tragedy came to light after a worried neighbour, who had not seen father and son about, investigated why he had seen the pair about.

David Harden found the back door of their home unlocked and when he went inside, discovered the family's German Shepherd lying dead in the lounge covered over with a rug.

The inquest heard that Mr Morley had died from stab wounds to the chest and his son from suspension, possibly up to 10 days before the discovery of their bodies on August 20.

Mr Morley's wife and Terence Moreley's mother, Rose Morley, had died just weeks before after a long illness during which she had been cared for by the two men.