A husband and wife in their 30s were found dead in the early hours of this morning at separate homes in an apparent murder-suicide.
The body of James Barnes, 30, was found at his parents’ home in Streetly in the West Midlands just after midnight – before his wife Amy was discovered 40 minutes later.
The 32-year-old woman’s body was found some 15 miles away in the Rednal area of Birmingham at the home of the couple, who got married just three years ago.
The body of James Barnes, 30, was found at his parents’ home just after midnight – before his wife Amy was discovered 40 minutes later. He posted this picture on Facebook last night
The body of Amy Barnes was found in the early hours of this morning in Rednal, Birmingham
Police believe Mrs Barnes was murdered on Cofton Park Close in Rednal before her husband killed himself in the garden of the £160,000 home on Linforth Drive in Streetly.
The couple lived in Rednall in a modern £190,000 semi-detached house, where they were described by neighbours as ‘a perfectly normal, friendly couple.’
Less than three hours before he allegedly slaughtered his wife, Mr Barnes updated his Facebook profile picture to one of the couple on their wedding day.
A friend named Caz Goodwill wrote below the photo this morning: ‘My heart goes out to you, James.’
Vicky James, who said she was a family member, wrote in response to messages of support: ‘Thank you everyone – devastated’.
It is believed Mr Barnes took his own life in the garden at the home of his parents Vivien, 68, and Robert Barnes, 72.
One of the couple’s neighbours in Rednal, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I am just simply numb from what we’ve heard so far. I cannot believe it.
‘I wasn’t aware they had any problems because they just seemed like the perfect pair who were just really starting their lives as a married couple together.
‘I can’t really say much more than that as I’m still in complete shock. They were really friendly and I just feel so sad this had happened. Such a tragedy.’
Another neighbour said: ‘They always seemed like a lovely, young couple.We heard the traffic down the road this morning and thought something bad must of happen but we never thought this.
‘It’s was about 1am and we woke up to see two large police vans, two ambulances and several police cars. It’s just so tragic.’
A group of four friends came to lay flowers at the scene in Rednal while holding back tears.
Police and forensics at the scene of Cofton Park Close in Rednal after the discovery today
The Barnes couple lived in Rednall in this modern £190,000 semi-detached house
One friend said: ‘It’s just so shocking. It’s not for us to talk about, it’s for the family to say.’
Another neighbour said: ‘I was woken up by the police cars and ambulances at around 1pm.
‘I don’t know what the circumstances were but it is a horrifying scenario. Surely they could have worked something out. Nothing should resort to that, it’s just terrible.’
A neighbour at the house in Streetly said: ‘The emergency services have been here through the night. We heard a commotion in the night.
‘We know the owners to say hello to. They are really nice neighbours but we didn’t know them very well. The wife wasn’t very well at all. I’ve only seen her once.’
Mr Barnes is thought to have studied graphic design at Sutton Coldfield College and had a degree in computer games modelling and animation from the University of Derby.
Both Mr and Mrs Barnes had posted pictures of their wedding on Facebook.
Police found the man’s body on this road in Streetly in the West Midlands just after midnight
The woman’s body was discovered 40 minutes later some 15 miles away on this road in Rednall
Describing one photo showing the bride and bridesmaids, Mr Barnes wrote: ‘They all looked perfect, even better than I had imagined in the planning.
‘And of course my bride, well she had me spooked and dreading what she had as she threw me off the scent of what she had got, but when I had a sneaky look over my shoulder as she turned the corner down the aisle in the church… she took my breathe away.
‘I had to focus and look towards the altar, turned to my brother and said, “bro, she’s beautiful”. Absolutely stunning.’
A police spokesman said: ‘Detectives are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
‘Forensic post-mortems will take place in due course on the deceased who were both aged in their 30s.
‘Both areas have been cordoned off while inquiries continue to establish the circumstances that led to their deaths.’
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