An inquest has opened into the death of a woman who allegedly died in a suspected "murder-suicide".
Helen Barlow, 54, was found dead along with her partner Richard Leishman, 64, at a house in North Shields in August last year. Following their deaths, police revealed that they were treating the case as a suspected "murder-suicide".
Officers said Helen had suffered injuries "consistent with an assault" while Richard appeared to have self-inflicted wounds. On Wednesday morning, an inquest was opened into Helen's death at Newcastle Coroner's Court.
