Probe into fatal crash and murder

12 April 2012

Post-mortem examinations are due to be held on a man who died when he crashed into a tree, and a woman believed to be his wife, who was found murdered at their home.

Police found the woman's body in a pool of blood after their investigation into the car crash led them to the 66-year-old man's house.

The man crashed his Smart car into a tree at 8.50pm on Sunday along a road near West Chiltington, West Sussex. He was taken to Worthing Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.

Police inquiries led them to his large, gated house in Silverwood, West Chiltington, about half a mile from the crash.

When officers failed to get a response from the house, which had another large car parked on the driveway, they forced their way in.

There they found the body of a 63-year-old woman, believed to be the man's wife.

Police are treating her death as murder and an investigation was launched on Monday. Officers do not believe anyone else is involved.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert of Sussex Police's Major Crime Branch is leading the investigation, codenamed Operation Armoy.

Formal identification is not expected until Thursday.

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