A KNIFEMAN repeatedly stabbed a retired couple in a fatal attack before taking his own life, a coroner has found.

Jeffrey 67 and Susan Farrance 65 were stabbed to death in their flat at Orchard House in Spring Gardens, off Blind Lane, late on Tuesday, April 19. 

Lance Oldale, 51, from Hazlemere was also found dead inside the property. 

Police launched a murder investigation and an inquest was finally held into their deaths on Thursday, February 15.

 

Assistant coroner Ian Wade found that Mr Oldale entered Jeffrey and Susan’s home and repeatedly stabbed them in the chest and abdomen, before taking his own life.

During the inquest, the court heard statements from psychiatrists and social workers about Lance's mental health, including a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and an attack on his mother in December 2021, after which he was admitted to The Whiteleaf Centre in Aylesbury for just over three months. 

Lance, who had been taking the drug clozapine, had reportedly experienced distorted thinking and auditory hallucinations and had expressed beliefs that he was related to the royal family and that hypnotist Paul McKenna was speaking to him inside his head.

The coroner also that had Mr Oldale been alive, he would have been charged with Jeffrey and Susan’s murder, but a defence of diminished responsibility would have been likely as he was suffering from a serious mental health illness.

Detective Chief Inspector Sally Spencer, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, has released the following statement: “Jeffrey and Susan Farrance, aged 67 and 65 respectively, tragically died at their home in Spring Gardens, Bourne End, on 19 April 2022, and our thoughts have been with their loved ones ever since.

“Lance Oldale, aged 51, from Hazlemere, was also sadly found dead at the property; our thoughts are also with his family and friends.

“At around 9.55pm on 19 April 2022, officers attended an address in Spring Gardens following reports of a disturbance.

“Inside, officers found three people deceased and evidence to suggest a serious assault had occurred.

“Despite the lack of a living offender, we have done all we can to investigate the circumstances of the incident on behalf of the coroner.

“I would like to acknowledge the dignity and patience shown by all of those affected by this tragic incident during our investigation and the course of the inquest.

“Lastly, our thoughts remain with the loved ones of all of those involved and I hope that now the inquest has concluded, they have been given the answers they needed and some form of closure.”

The coroner ruled that Jeffrey and Susan’s death was unlawful killing and Mr Oldale’s death was suicide.