Man wrongly accused of murdering wife was abused by her, inquest hears

Helen Nicoll reportedly beat and kicked her husband before killing herself

Helen Nicoll was reportedly abusive to her husband and children (Rex Features)

A Harley Street dentist who was wrongly accused of his wife’s murder was a victim of domestic violence, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Nicoll, 54, was arrested after his wife, Helen, was found dead at their house in Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire in June last year.

Ms Nicoll was found to have died of asphyxiation in a post-mortem examination and Mr Nicoll was arrested and released on police bail.

Following what he described as “the worst days” of his life, the charges against Mr Nicoll were dropped after police concluded Ms Nicoll had killed herself.

Cambridgeshire Coroners’ Court heard on Monday that she had been “physically and emotionally abusive” towards her husband and children.

Ms Nicoll, who was also a dentist, had pushed her children to succeed, especially in music, and had previously been investigated by police over an alleged assault on her eldest daughter, Georgia.

But the court heard her behaviour had become increasingly erratic when a patient of 20 years began trying to sue her in February 2015, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Giving evidence, Mr Nicoll said she had first expressed suicidal thoughts after the complaint was first logged and was prescribed anti-depressants after developing depression and anxiety.

She also became increasingly paranoid and accused her husband of having an affair.

Mr Nicoll said the complaint was “the single thing that caused her to go into depression, caused her to start drinking heavily and that is what led to her taking her life

“If that complaint had not been made we would not be sitting here today.”

On the night of Ms Nicoll’s death, Mr Nicoll said he went to meet Georgia to hand her the keys to the family’s flat in London.

When he returned home at around 11:30pm, he said she had been drinking heavily and accused him of talking to Georgia about him.

He said the attack continued as they went to bed and he was hit with her elbow and kicked in the face.

He claimed she then smashed her head on the bedside table because she was trying to “cover her tracks” because she saw she had given him a black eye.

Ms Nicoll then sent images of her head to their children and said “this is what your father did to me”, he said.

During the night he said he heard her get up and turn on some classical music on the radio and when he came downstairs in the morning he found her dead.

DCI Jerry Waite, who led the investigation, said despite the bruise he released Mr Nicoll without charge as he found no inconsistencies in his account.

Assistant coroner Simon Milbun recorded a narrative verdict and said the “evidence of her intent...remains unclear”.

Anyone wishing to seek information and/ or support can call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit www.samaritans.org.