A HOME Office pathologist will today (Fri Aug 25) confirm whether a Whitefield woman was murdered.

According to the results of a post mortem, Mrs Linda Southwood died as a result of pressure to her neck which was "likely caused by a third party".

During yesterday's (Thurs Aug 24) inquest at Bury Magistrates, Coroner Mr Barrie Williams heard how Mrs Southwood's husband, Albert, was arrested on suspicion of her murder on January 28, although he has not been charged with any offence.

The 52-year-old mother of two was discovered earlier that day on the bedroom floor of her home in Pinfold Lane with her head hanging over a waste paper bin. Mr Southwood attempted to resuscitate his wife and a paramedic confirmed she had been dead more than an hour before her body was found.

Yesterday's inquest heard how Mrs Southwood rejected her husband's amorous advances the night before her death and the couple slept in separate rooms.

Mr Southwood's son from a previous marriage, Darren, and his Athens-born girlfriend were staying in the house at the time of the tragedy.

Both told police they heard a noise around 1am on the morning of January 28 but neither thought it to be unusual.

After revealing the cause of death possibly involved a third party, the coroner suggested to Darren: "If that proves to be the case then it must have been done by a person already in the household because no-one else appears to have been in the house." Darren agreed.

It was also revealed that both Mr and Mrs Southwood were alcoholics and regularly drank spirits throughout the day. They also enjoyed a sexually charged relationship.

In a police interview, Mr Southwood (62) said that the night before his wife died, he made sexual advances towards her but she rejected his demands.

He told detectives: "I am not used to being told 'no'. In my previous marriage I was never refused. I am insatiable but it was just too much for Linda.

"I don't like rejection. I decided to sleep in a separate room and locked the door to get my own back on her if she changed her mind."

Mr Southwood found his wife's body the next morning.

Continuing.