INQUESTS have opened into the deaths of a woman and man found dead in a suspected murder-suicide.

Sherrie Teresa Milnes suffered multiple stab wounds and neck compression at a flat in Ranelagh Road, Weymouth, on April 1.

Dorset Police officers were called to the address at 5.40pm by the ambulance service but the 51-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that evening, police – including armed officers - were called to an address on Grove Road, Portland.

Steven Anthony Doughty, aged 54, was found dead at the scene. An inquest opening into his death heard he was found hanged.

Police confirmed the pair were known to each other.

Bunches of flowers and remembrance cards were laid near to the entrance of the flat in Heron Court in the days following Ms Milnes’ death.

A family friend of Ms Milnes - who said she was a mother of three - said he was in “complete shock” when he heard what had happened to her and found it “absolutely terrifying”.

On April 1 armed police, along with the a police helicopter, attended Mr Doughty’s property and cordoned off a section of Grove Road in Portland.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he saw police and paramedics enter the house.

He said: “We watched what was going on and after a while the police broke down the front window on the door of the house and went in shouting, ‘armed police’.

“They smashed the front window and bashed the door in. A little bit later an ambulance came and three paramedics went into the house.”

Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team is currently conducting enquiries into both deaths.

Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “We are continuing to investigate the circumstances of both deaths, which are being treated as linked. The families of both the woman and the man are continuing to be kept updated and are being supported by specially-trained officers.”

A provisional pre inquest review for Ms Milnes has been listed for September 7, while a pre inquest review into Mr Doughty’s death is due to take place on September 6.