Elderly couple found dead after sending suicide letter to BBC

A couple in their eighties from Berkshire, UK, have been found dead in their Newbury home, police confirm, after a joint suicide note is sent to the BBC.

The couple, 83 year old Dennis Milner and 81 year old Flora Milner sent the letter to the BBC which criticised the UK laws in place regarding assisted death. Writing a statement which arrived at BBC South on Tuesday, they said they had "chosen to peacefully end our lives". Writing about the law that prevents people from legally dying peacefully and with their loved ones surrounding them they said they wanted to highlight a "serious human dilemma". Speaking of her parents, their daughter Chrissy explained that her parents were in good health but had told her "we won't be here for Christmas". Chrissy also explained that her parents did not want to reach a stage in their lives where they would be far to ill to be able to continue to care for themselves. The statement which they sent to the BBC appears to have been signed by both Dennis and Flora Milner and was headlined, "a personal critical self-assessment". The statement reads:

We have been fortunate to have lived through and enjoyed 80 plus years of a happy, loving and exciting life. It would be impossible to thank all the people and organisations which every day, without fail, have contributed to our lifespan. There's just one outstanding [group] which we think everyone would go along with, the medical profession and the NHS in which they serve. They have usefully extended our lives by at least 25-30 years. We leave this life with just one serious and disappointing criticism of our society. Today we have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right - to terminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with our loved ones around us, without anyone having to face any legal possibilities or harassment.

A spokesman for the Thames Valley Police said, "We were called to an address in Enborne Road at 9am on the 1 November. There were two unexplained deaths, they are not thought to be suspicious." He then went on to confirm that the bodies had been identified as those of Dennis and Flora Milner. Talking about cause of death he said that a post mortem had been carried out but that further toxicology tests would have to take place to find out the exact cause of death. Speaking for the West Berkshire Coroner, a spokesperson confirmed that the family had been told.