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Murder suicide couple had run into relationship trouble, friend claims

A married couple found dead in a suspected murder suicide had run into relationship difficulties, it has been claimed.

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The picture James Barnes uploaded as his profile picture before his and Amy's bodies were found.

While it has also emerged that James Barnes, who is thought to have killed wife Amy at their home in Rednal, Birmingham, before taking his own life at his parents' bungalow in Streetly, may have written about their troubled marriage on Facebook shortly before he committed suicide.

The body of aspiring personal fitness trainer Mr Barnes, aged 30, was found in the garden of the home in Linforth Drive shortly before midnight on Monday. While Amy, a neo-natal nurse at Birmingham Women's Hospital, aged 32, was discovered around 40 minutes after at the couple's property in Cofton Park Close about 15 miles away.

West Midlands Police has not formally named the couple yet or provided any further details at this stage.

However a friend of Mr Barnes, who spoke to him the day before the tragic events unfolded, said the couple were going through a 'difficult patch' although he did not think the problems were that serious.

Another person who knew the former pupil at what was The Streetly School said he had uploaded a post to his Facebook page expressing his feelings over the state of his marriage shortly before he and Amy were found dead.

Although the alleged message could not be seen on his profile page.

Mr Barnes' last post was to change his profile picture at around 9.50pm on Monday to a photograph of him and Amy on their wedding day in May 2014.

Police liaison officers are still supporting both sets of families.

The investigation continues.

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