Man died after 'stabbing himself in the chest when partner said she wanted to end relationship'

Brian Smith could not bear the thought of living without partner of five years Jacqueline Roberts and took drastic action when she told him she wanted him out of the house.

Mr Smith got a knife from the kitchen at the couple's Stourbridge home, forcing his terrified partner to flee, a coroner was told.

He then stabbed himself in the chest three times.

Despite the efforts of medics the 72-year-old died in hospital.

An inquest at Black Country Coroner's Court in Oldbury heard how the couple had been watching TV just moments before.

Ms Roberts said she had been trying to end the relationship for a year and had given her partner until the end of March to leave the house.

On March 30, she again told him to go and a short time later he reached for the knife, the hearing was told.

Her statement read to the hearing said retired chemist Mr Smith was controlling and though he had never been violent towards her she felt intimidated by him.

Ms Roberts called a relative as she left the house, in Park Road West, Wollaston, and frantically told her 'he has a knife'.

A friend of Mr Smith's, Tim Newey, received a chilling call from him, saying he had stabbed himself, the inquest heard.

Police were called and officers found the pensioner lying in the garden.

The couple were at home when Mr Smith disappeared into the kitchen, the inquest heard.

Ms Roberts then followed and saw him holding something behind his back.

She then saw it was a knife and ran from the house.

A statement from Ms Roberts, read to the court, said: "He was quite needy and quite controlling.

"We used to argue quite a bit, he would stand in front of me and stop me leaving the house.

"He never hurt me and I never felt he would but I did feel intimidated.

"I was not happy in the relationship and wanted to end it.

"I tried to end the relationship but he simply would not go.

"This went on for about a year. Two weeks ago I gave him an ultimatum and told him the relationship was definitely over this time and I wanted him out of my house by the end of the month.

"He said he didn't want to leave and couldn't be on his own.

"We were watching TV and he seemed very calm. He then got up and went into the kitchen. I then went to the kitchen and I knew straight away he had a knife behind him.

"He didn't threaten me but I felt scared.

"I grabbed my keys and phone and ran out of the house."

Assistant coroner David Urpeth recorded a verdict of suicide at the inquest on Tuesday.