A pensioner slit his wife's throat and bludgeoned her to death before killing himself at their village home.

Detectives were working on this theory today as they continued to probe the horrific double death of Martin and Joan Lawrie.

Retired teacher Joan, 69, and her husband Martin, 71, were found dead at their home in Church View, Freeland, near Witney, yesterday.

Mrs Lawrie was found in a bedroom of their detached house with severe head and neck injuries.

Her husband was found with severe head injuries on the patio beneath an upstairs window.

Police believe the couple may have been dead for as long as two days.

Following investigations by a pathologist and forensic officers, Thames Valley Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Mum-of-two Mrs Lawrie had suffered terrible head and neck injuries, possibly inflicted with a claw hammer and knife.

Emergency services were called after a neighbour saw the body of Mr Lawrie lying on the patio at the back of the couple's £130,000 four-bedroom detached house. He had suffered serious head injuries. Police believe Mr Lawrie killed his wife and then himself.

They found no obvious sign of a break-in at the house, where the couple had lived for more than 35 years.

A pathologist and forensic teams were on the scene as detectives tried to piece together the couple's last movements.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Richard Goodfellow said: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.

"The initial post-mortem showed she (Mrs Lawrie) died from severe head injuries. Further tests are being carried out today.

"This was a sad and tragic occurrence and very difficult for our officers to deal with.

"It has shocked the whole of this quiet neighbourhood."

Mrs Lawrie retired in 1983 after 16 years as an infant teacher at the nearby village school.

Mr Lawrie, a retired civil engineer, was a steward of the local Methodist church, responsible for its day-to-day running.

His wife was also a devout churchgoer and was well-known for her flower-arranging skills

Twenty villagers attended an emotional service yesterday at the tiny church. The Rev Stainer Smith told the congregation: "Martin and Joan were such lovely, wonderful people who gave their life to God and we gather here bemused, perplexed and bereaved."

The officer leading the investigation, Det Chief Insp Euan Read, said: "We are treating the deaths as unexplained and suspicious.

"It is unclear how they died and the circumstances surrounding their deaths are unclear."

Neighbours spoke of their horror on hearing about the deaths.

Decorator John Bayliss, who lives in nearby Walkers Close, was visibly shocked as he heard of the couple's death as he walked his dog. In the past, he had carried out jobs at the house and Mrs Lawrie had taught his 29-year-old daughter Mandy.

"She was very friendly, a lovely lady. I just can't believe it, they were such a nice couple. My daughter thought she was a lovely lady when she taught her at school."

The couple's two grown-up children have both moved away from the area, their daughter to Manchester and their son to Australia.

Story date: Monday 15 February

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