NHS chiefs review case of suicide couple (From The Argus)

NHS chiefs review case of Chichester suicide couple

12:10pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in News

Mental health officials were trying to work with a married couple who killed themselves in a suspected suicide pact.

Now NHS bosses are conducting a review into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Alphira and Kris Rivers, who previously had the surname Stonehouse.

Mrs Rivers, who is thought to have still used the name Alphira Elizabeth Stonehouse on Facebook, contacted West Sussex County Council in April.

Both she and her 44-year-old husband were referred to the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for support.

Last night (November 12) a trust source told The Argus that bosses were conducting a review into the case and  the couple were known to staff.

A spokesman for the trust said: “This is a very sad incident and we will assist the coroner and police in their investigation.

“To avoid prejudicing an active investigation by the police and the coroner’s office we will not be making any further comment at this time.”

Further tests

Sussex Police, who initially gave Mrs Rivers age as 22 but yesterday said she was 27, confirmed the couple’s deaths were not being treated as suspicious.

A force spokesman yesterday said: “Post-mortems were held on Monday but further toxicology tests are required before causes of death can be established.”

When police were called to the couple’s home in Whyke Marsh, Chichester, on Thursday, November 8, there was nothing obvious to indicate how they died .

The couple had not been in Chichester long, previously living elsewhere in Sussex. Their bodies were found after police were alerted by a worried acquaintance of the couple.

Leave your tributes to the couple below or email anna.roberts@theargus.co.uk.

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