Heartbroken Longfield father stabbed his wife then shot himself after the couple split up

Stephen Knock, aged 47, of Igtham Way, was found dead by armed police in the kitchen of a two-bedroom flat in Esparto Way, South Darenth, with a shotgun in his lap on July 28.

An inquest into Mr Knock's death, held at Gravesend's Old Town Hall on November 13, heard how he stabbed 45-year-old Amaya Knock in the shoulder before shooting himself dead with his own gun.

A post-mortem examination held at Darent Valley hospital on July 31 recorded the cause of Mr Knock's death as a shotgun wound to the head.

Detective Sergeant Richard Pringle read a report of the incident to the inquest, referring to witness statements from Mrs Knock, residents of Esparto Way and members of the emergency services.

The inquest heard Mr and Mrs Knock's seven-year marriage had come under pressure when Mr Knock's decorating business hit financial difficulties.

The couple, who have a six-year-old daughter together, split up in May and decided Mr Knock would move into a flat the couple owned in Esparto Way.

On July 28 Mrs Knock agreed to help her husband move furniture into the flat.

Det Sgt Pringle told the inquest Mrs Knock had bent down and felt a “sudden pain” in her shoulder.

He added: "She turned around to see her husband holding a kitchen knife."

Reading information given to him by Mrs Knock, Det Sgt Pringle said after the stabbing Mr Knock suggested the couple kill themselves.

The court heard Mr Knock said to his wife: "‘What have I done, what have I done? Shall we go together?”

But Mrs Knock replied “No, what about the baby?”

Mr Knock left the flat and was seen by his wife returning with a shotgun as she fled the building.

Esparto Way resident Victor Madeira told police he had seen Mrs Knock “walking like a zombie” in the car park.

He added she had told him she was “stabbed by her ex”.

Mrs Knock was taken to King’s College hospital in Lambeth.

During the journey Mrs Knock told paramedic Samantha Rea about the attack.

Det Sgt Pringle said: "Mrs Knock told her ‘he stabbed me in the back with a kitchen knife. He’s never been violent with me before.’”

Mrs Knock survived the attack and has since started to rebuild her life with her daughter.

Det Sgt Pringle said police had concluded Mr Knock had tried to kill his wife.

Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Roger Hatch said: "It is clear that the only conclusion that I can reach is that Stephen Knock took his own life."