Oldbury murder-suicide: Police examine phone of wife killed by husband
Police are examining the mobile phone of a woman killed by her husband.
Paul Lander, aged 30, and Rikki Lander, 26, were found dead at their home in Oldbury on August 5.
Mrs Lander’s body was discovered in the living room at the back of the Pel Crescent home, while Mr Lander was found hanged in another part of the house.
A pre-inquest review hearing yesterday (MON) was told that there were ‘suggestions’ that Mrs Lander may have been ‘seeing another person’.
Giving evidence at Black Country Coroners Court, Detective Sergeant Inderjit Basra, from West Midlands Police Homicide team, said: “There is a suggestions of text messages being sent prior to Rikki’s death and we want to confirm that.
“It may assist with how or why she died.
“It is suggested from a family member that on the Friday before she died Paul had seen a text message to suggest that she was seeing another person, but we have not seen that yet.
Later on, the family member gave a statement saying Paul had text him saying he had hit her [Rikki] with a hammer.
“We have examined the family member’s phone but could not see that text message, although from Paul’s phone there was data sent to the family member.
“However, there has been nothing to suggest she was having an affair from Rikki’s own billing information of her phone.
“There was no other numbers and Paul was the top contact.”
Mrs Lander’s phone has now been sent to The Metropolitan Police to be unlocked.
Police are also awaiting reports back from a forensic pathologist and the examination of the brain of Mrs Lander, the inquest was told.
No-one else is being sought by police in connection with the deaths.
Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique set a full inquest date for November 13 at 2pm.
Mr Lander was a HGV driver born in West Bromwich, and Mrs Lander was an admin clerk born in Birmingham.
