Jealous builder strangled his partner before killing himself after wrongly accusing her of having an affair

  • Couple moved from Yorkshire to Wales to build a new life, inquest heard
  • But man became suspicious of his partner after trip back to Rotherham
  • The pair were both found dead at their rural home in April, hearing told
  • Coroner finds she was unlawfully killed while he took his own life

By RICHARD SPILLETT FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A jealous builder killed his partner and then hanged himself in a barn after wrongly accusing her of having an affair.

Nigel McGrath, 45, was found hanged at his isolated farmhouse in west Wales and his partner Tracy Cockrell was dead on the sofa, having been strangled.

An inquest heard how pair had been together for nearly two years and had tried to make a fresh start moving from Yorkshire into a rural home.

Nigel McGrath is believed to have killed his partner before taking his own life, an inquest heard

Nigel McGrath is believed to have killed his partner before taking his own life, an inquest heard

Her sister Sharon Rogers told the inquest how Ms Cockrell, 51, had 'finally found a happy life' after moving to the west coast.

But jealous McGrath became convinced that carer Tracy had an affair on a return trip to Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

The hearing was told the pair began 'continuously arguing' as he accused her of cheating on him. She told friends that McGrath was a 'bully'.

She said McGrath had accused her of being unfaithful and didn't believe her denials.

McGrath wrongly accused Tracy Cockrell of having an affair before their deaths

McGrath wrongly accused Tracy Cockrell of having an affair before their deaths

Her sister said: 'McGrath had a conversation with my husband Chris where he admitted he could throttle her for what he thought she had done.

'But she denied being unfaithful as did the person she was accused of being unfaithful with.'

The inquest heard Tracy was found dead on the sofa in the farmhouse near Llanwran, Machynlleth, in April. McGrath was found dead in a nearby outbuilding.

The inquest at Welshpool heard his former wife Heather had made a complaint to South Yorkshire Police in late 2012 over domestic abuse.

Andrew Barkley, senior coroner for South Wales and Central concluded that Miss Cockrell was unlawfully killed, as a result of a trauma from pressure to the face and neck.

He concluded that McGrath committed suicide.

Ms Cockrell's daughter Adele Johnson said after her death: 'She wanted a change of scenery, there was nothing left for her in Rotherham. She wanted to start a new life but now it's over. She was an amazing person.'

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.

 

 

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