Southport lodger Barry Morrow 'murdered mother and daughter'

A woman and her mother were strangled by a lodger who then killed himself while awaiting trial over their murders, an inquest heard.

Angela Holgate, 54, and Alice Huyton, 75, were found dead at Mrs Holgate's home in Fairhaven Road, Southport, Merseyside, on 3 December 2011.

Barry Morrow, 52, was charged over their deaths but was found hanged in his cell at HMP Manchester in February.

The coroner, at Southport Town Hall, ruled the women were unlawfully killed.

The hearing was told how police said there was no evidence anybody else was involved in the murders.

Giving evidence, Det Ch Insp Alyson O'Donnell of Merseyside Police said Mrs Holgate and Mr Morrow, from Burnley, Lancashire, had been lovers before he moved into her semi-detached house as a paying lodger.

She said Mrs Holgate had hoped to resume the relationship but Mr Morrow had refused and so she began considering asking him to move out.

On 25 November, the couple went to the Lake District for a two-night break but suddenly returned home the next day, with Mr Morrow telling hotel staff they had to attend a family emergency.

It was the last time Mrs Holgate, the mother of two daughters and who worked for Tesco in Southport, was seen alive.

Det Ch Insp O'Donnell said: "Angela was described as a bubbly, caring person with many friends. She was outgoing and sociable and worked mainly evening shifts at Tesco in Kew, Southport."

The officer said Mrs Holgate met Mr Morrow about four years ago when she was given a gift of a "flying experience" at Blackpool airport, where he worked as a co-ordinator.

A short time later the divorced father-of-one contacted her and they began dating.

Mrs Holgate had been ill shortly before her death and had not been seen out of the house for a week before she died.

Suspicions were raised about Mrs Huyton, who also lived in Southport, after she called at the house on 2 December to see how her daughter was, but was not seen again.

The bodies of the pair were found at the house the following day, before it was discovered Mr Morrow was missing.

A Europe-wide search was later launched for him after it emerged Mrs Holgate's white Citroen was missing from the drive, which he had then been spotted driving, in Calais.

Five days later he was arrested in the UK on suspicion of murdering both women.