A CAREWORKER killed his wife before hanging himself at their Deighton home, an inquest has heard.

Efias Rusakira, 50, was found hanging from rafters while his wife Grace, 47, was found with a knotted towel around her neck at their home at Chalwood in the early hours of September 8.

Detectives investigating the deaths told an inquest they were satisfied no-one else was involved.

The resumed inquest at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard how concerns were raised for the couple after Mr Rusakira failed to turn up at the Oxley Woodhouse residential home in Fartown, where he worked, on the day before their bodies were discovered.

Coroner’s Officer Carol Taylor told the court: “After several visits staff became extremely concerned and later that evening police attended the couple’s home.”

Police forced entry to the ground floor flat door and went up the stairs to the first floor flat.

Det Chief Insp Mark Ridley told the court he attended the couple’s home in the early hours of September 8 as the senior investigating officer.

He said: “I found Grace and Efias in the property and their bodies still in situ with life extinct. Efias had been hanging by a ligature from the roof rafters through a loft hatch.

“There was a note on the table. It contained certain facts that he may have been responsible for the death of Grace.

“She was found lying on the floor with a towel twisted at both ends round her neck.”

He said Dr Richard Shepherd, a forensic pathologist, carried out a post mortem and recorded Mrs Rusakira died as a result of asphyxiation and Mr Rusakira died as a result of hanging by a ligature.

He told the court: “We conducted detailed inquiries with family, friends and colleagues and it appears there were some difficulties within the marriage.

“I am satisfied after looking at all the facts that Efias asphyxiated Grace.”

He told the court the house was locked and two sets of keys were found inside and any third party involvement had been ruled out.

He said he saw no reason why the couple’s bodies could not be repatriated to Zimbabwe at the family’s request.

Coroner Professor Paul Marks then adjourned the inquest pending further investigations.

The couple, who were largely unknown in the area, had lived in Huddersfield for two years prior to the tragedy.

They had two grown up children who live in Zimbabwe.