A 59-year-old man will appear in court today charged with murder and assisting the suicide of his seriously-ill wife.

Robert Cook was arrested after police found the body of his wife Vanessa Cook, who had multiple sclerosis, at their home in Camber Close, Pound Hill, Crawley.

Cook was charged last week with murder and assisting the suicide of 55-year-old Mrs Cook on October 19 last year. He will appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court.

Meanwhile, an inquest into Mrs Cook's death was opened and adjourned at Horsham Magistrates' Court last Thursday.