Image copyright Facebook Two boys found dead with their father at a house were unlawfully killed, a coroner has
The bodies of Adam and Matthew Stokes were discovered holding hands under a duvet in a bed at their home in Welwyn Road , Hinckley, Leicestershire, on 2 November 2016.
Their father, 43 – year-old David Stokes was also found dead in the house from a single stab wound.
Coroner Tankya Rawden concluded he had killed himself.
At Rutland and North West Leicestershire Coroner’s Court, Ms Rawden told the victims’ families: “I cannot begin to imagine what the last three years have been like for you.
“What happened was a tragedy. I am sorry this has happened to your family. “
The court had previously heardMr Stokes had locked his estranged wife Sally Stokes in the househours before the bodies were discovered, sparking a stand-off with police.
David’s father Phil Stokes said he and wife Susan were called by police at about 01: 00 GMT to ask if they knew where the children were.
They were not asked to go to the house but went anyway, the inquest heard, and they saw Sally run out the house after (***********************************************: 00.
They were asked to go home, and when police visited their house about 05: 30 they then learned their Mr Stokes, 11 – year-old Adam and five-year-old Matthew had died.
In a statement read out in court, Phil Stokes said he felt the outcome may have been different if he was allowed to talk to his son during police negotiations with him.
“I feel we should have been informed about the incident much earlier and should have been allowed to speak to David.”
Ms Rawden said Leicestershire Police’s actions “did not cause or contribute to the deaths”.
Richard Stokes, Mr Stokes’ brother, told the inquest he had a meeting with Mrs Stokes and his brother on the evening of 1 November about David.
He said it was the “first time I felt David may have needed some support from a mental heath point of view “, but until then he had no concerns.
” All I can do is apologise to Sally, “he said.
“I’m so sorry we could not have been there when you needed us most.”
James Stokes, the youngest brother of Mr Stokes, told the court he was “very close to David”.
“It has devastated us as a family,” he said. “It’s really so sad.”
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