Man 'dumps wife's body under Christmas tree'
Pastor Dale Morgan
Man 'dumps wife's body under Christmas tree'*
By Stian Alexander
Last Updated: 1:37am GMT 26/12/2007
A pensioner is believed to have murdered his wife and left her body
lying among Christmas decorations before killing himself by driving his
car into a tree.
The body of 63-year-old Susan Goswell was discovered by police on
Christmas Eve after they broke down the front door of her home in West
Sussex.
They had just discovered her husband Roger dying behind the wheel of his
car less than a mile away, and were there to inform Mrs Goswell of the
accident.
But police discovered the retired teacher's body lying among gifts and
tinsel under the family Christmas tree.
A source close to the investigation said: "We are working on the
assumption that the husband killed his wife and then killed himself."
Mr Goswell, 66, was taken to hospital at about 9pm on Dec 23 after
paramedics cut him free from his Smart car after it crashed into a tree
less than two miles from his home.
He was pronounced dead at 1am on Christmas Eve.
Eileen Rogers, 53, a neighbour, said: "It is absolutely terrible to
think that this has happened just before Christmas.
"Susan was lovely. I didn't know Roger very well, but Susan was great fun.
"I can't believe it really. To have such a horrible thing happen on your
doorstep is truly numbing.
"I can't possibly enjoy Christmas now, knowing what has happened to that
poor woman."
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "Susan was a really
nice and polite woman who did not deserve to die like this.
"The whole community is in shock at what has happened."
And another neighbour, Christopher Clarke, added: "I didn't know them
very well but it's a sad state of affairs when something like this happens."
A Sussex Police spokesman refused to confirm the names of the couple,
but said: "A murder inquiry has been launched into the death of a
63-year-old woman."
He added: "Two Home Office post mortem examinations are taking place in
relation to the deaths at West Chiltington.
"The first, on the 66-year-old man who died following the road
collision, took place on Dec 24. The second, on the 63-year-old woman
believed to be his wife, will take place on Boxing Day. Her death is
being treated as murder."
Detectives were continuing to search the Goswell's £700,000 detached
bungalow in West Chiltington.
A single floral tribute lay at the entrance to the house.
A card attached to it read: "To a loving and dedicated mother from all
your children. We love you Mum x".