Wife murder accused is found dead in Gillingham home

A 79-year-old man accused of murdering his wife has been found dead at his home in Kent.

The body of Alan Thomas was discovered at a property in Deanwood Drive, Gillingham, on Monday.

He was accused of killing his wife, Winifred, 77, at their home in May and was due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on 25 August.

Kent Police said a post-mortem examination had showed he died of asphyxiation.

A spokesman for the force said: "The body of Alan Thomas was found at the address. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Police are not treating the death as suspicious and a post mortem has revealed that he died from asphyxiation."

Tests revealed Mrs Thomas had died as a result of drowning.