Tragic details released of murder and suicide deaths of North East couple

Police at the cordoned off house on the Quadrant, North Shields
-Credit: (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)


The murder and suicide deaths of a couple whose bodies were found in the home they shared could not have been predicted, a review has found.

Helen Barlow and Richard Leishman were both found dead at the house in North Shields after worried colleagues of Helen called police when she did not turn up at work. An inquest would later hear how Helen, 54, had been violently attacked, and Richard, her partner of 18 years, was found to have died from strangulation.

Following an investigation into the couple's deaths, detectives said they were satisfied that no-one else was involved and they were treating the tragedy, which happened in August 2022, as a murder-suicide.

Now a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR), which explores the circumstances surrounding Helen's death has been published. The report finds that no-one could have predicted Richard would kill Helen, and no opportunities to prevent the murder were missed by friends, family or agencies.

However, the DHR said there were lessons to be learned from Helen's tragic death that could help others in the future. The report explains how in the weeks before she died, outgoing and popular Helen had confided in close friends that she had told Richard their relationship was over, but he had continued to live at her home. And in the days before she was killed she said she had planned to give him an ultimatum that weekend and ask him to leave.

Flowers outside a house on the Quadrant in North Shields
Flowers outside a house on the Quadrant in North Shields -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle

And the review, which uses pseudonyms for Helen and Richard, makes a recommendation that work is done to raise awareness that there is a higher risk of domestic violence and when a relationship comes to an end, even if a partner has not previously been abusive.

The report says: "There were no missed opportunities for any agency or family or friends to intervene. There were no indicators that (Richard) would kill (Helen) and himself.

"We must ensure that agencies and the community understand that separation is a critical factor in relation to a significant increase in risk of domestic abuse and that this can be where previously a risk of abuse would be considered negligible. Men commit most homicide-suicides, and it generally occurs in the context of separation, divorce, or relational conflict."

Police at the cordoned off house on the Quadrant, North Shields
Police at the cordoned off house on the Quadrant, North Shields -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle

The review also points out that murder-suicides are more prevalent in relationships involving older men and men who have not previously been abusive. And the report says this is something agencies should be aware of.

"Age is a factor and perpetrators of homicide suicide are older in profile than general homicide perpetrators and are less likely to have a history as a domestic abuser," the report says. "This creates some assistance in profiling risk. Agencies in this DHR had no indications of risk but for the future, assurance should be sought that they are aware of these factors. They may for example see presentations of patients or service users that may alert them to potential risks, for example, middle aged males who are recently separated or facing separation."

The review explains how Helen was born in North Tyneside and got a job with Jewson's builder's merchants after leaving school, and had worked for the company for almost 40 years when she died. She had one sister and a close extended family and a close circle of friends.

The Quadrant in North Shields
The Quadrant in North Shields -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle

Helen met Richard in 2004 and he moved into her home on The Quadrant soon after. Despite being a qualified gas fitter, Richard did not work and while Helen was outgoing and had an active social life, Richard rarely went out, meaning his partner's friends and family did not know him well.

Through speaking to Helen's friends, the DHR's author discovered she had wanted to end her relationship with Richard since 2020 and hoped to meet someone new. Over a three month period in 2022 she asked him to move out of her house, but Richard did not make any effort to find somewhere new. In August 2022, Helen told colleagues and friends that she would tell Richard he had to leave over the weekend, and that is when he killed her before taking his own life.

Police forced their way into the house after some of Helen's colleagues at Jewson became worried when she did not turn up for work. Helen was found to have died as a result of a head injury. An inquest into Richard's death heard how two derogatory notes on A4 pieces of paper were discovered by police next to Helen's body. In one of the notes, written Richard, he admitted he had "topped" her.

The report highlights that those close to Helen did not believe the relationship had been controlling or abusive, and they believe she would have told them if it was.

"All accounts from family and friends described (Helen) as being very much in control of what she did in life, and all felt sure that (Helen) would have disclosed fear or threat," it said. "Nonetheless Panel considered that some of (Richard's) behaviours could be interpreted in hindsight to attempt to “control” in a way that allows him to choose his lifestyle within the relationship."

The review also explained how both Helen and Richard had very little contact with agencies. It does however, make two recommendations as a result of its examination of Helen's death.

They are:

1) That the Domestic Abuse Partnership ensure that there is professional and community awareness, that the escalation to abusive behaviours and most serious violence is a significant risk in relationships that are ending, even where there may be no known prior history of abusive behaviour.

2) That the Domestic Abuse Partnership and Safeguarding Adult Board provide assurance that domestic abuse and adult safeguarding training provides frontline staff with skills to understand the profile and risk factors associated with homicide-suicide.

Helen's sister paid tribute to her in an introduction to the report and told of the impact of her death.

"She was full of fun and had a zest for life, she lit up a room simply by being in it," she said. "One of her colleagues described her as a ‘force’, she had a presence about her that I’ve not experienced in anyone else. She loved a night out, a chance to dress up. She’d often be the one arranging work nights out. (Helen) appeared to most as being confident, she wouldn’t mince her words; she’d say what she thought and stand by it.

"She was the best Auntie my children could have had. She was interested in all that they did, had the same worries and dreams for them as I did and she loved them fiercely. Her friends say she was wonderful and generous, helping anyone in need. The character that she was meant she was much loved by not only her friends, but their families too.

"She loved and thrived on the banter she had at work, both with her colleagues and customers. So many came to her funeral, tradesmen leaving site in workwear complete with dirt and dust, just so they could attend.

"There will be so many events and occasions where her absence will be harshly felt. Every day there is something I wish I could share with her or talk to her about. The feeling of loss will never diminish. The world is a duller and a sadder place without (Helen) in it."

Coun Karen Clark, chair of the Safer North Tyneside Partnership, has vowed to make sure lessons are learned from what happened to Helen, and that awareness is raised about the potential dangers associated with the end of some relationships.

“This was an extremely sad case, and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of those impacted," she said. “It is clear that Helen was deeply loved by her family, friends and colleagues. The shock of losing a loved one to such unexpected and sudden violence cannot be understated.

“The Domestic Homicide Review looked at how this tragedy happened, and what we as both professionals and members of our communities might do to stop this happening in future.

“Helen and Richard were not known to any agencies, and as a result there were no missed opportunities for agencies to intervene. There were no known indicators that Richard would kill Helen and then himself. Crucially, there was nothing Helen’s family or friends could have done either.

“Research for this review shows that separating from a partner, or intending to separate, is a critical factor in making a homicide more likely. Few of us could even imagine that the end of a relationship could lead to a tragedy like this, and I am determined that the Safer North Tyneside Partnership will do more to raise awareness of this across professionals and communities.

“The partnership will ensure all actions and learning detailed in this report are completed quickly and will continue to make North Tyneside a safe place to live.”