Man took own life

A HEARTBROKEN wife has described the moment she left the room while her "courageous, strong-willed, determined" terminally ill husband of almost 40 years took his own life.

Father of two Thomas Anthony Hobkinson suffered from motor neurone disease and bought drugs over the internet to commit suicide at home in Cornwall, an inquest heard.

In the months before his death, the 71-year-old retired auditor had watched a television programme about euthanasia by novelist Sir Terry Pratchett, who has Alzheimer's.

His widow Anne, 64, said that on the night of September 29 last year her husband told her he was ready to die.

BOGOF meal deal

Golden Lion Inn & Restaurant Stithians Lake

View details

Print voucher

Buy one get one free on main course and specials. Equal prise meal or cheapest free

Terms: Mon-fri 12-2pm
Wed & Thur 6-9pm

Contact: 01209 700617

Valid until: Friday, May 24 2013

She said: "Tom said he was going to do it. He was watching a DVD of our son Ben's wedding. He told me to go to bed and to take one of his sleeping pills. We said our goodbyes. As I left the room he told me not to forget the heating instructions for the flat were in the bottom drawer – that was typical of him. I was hoping it wasn't going to work. But on the other hand it was what he wanted."

Christine Evans, Mr Hobkinson's GP, said he had asked her about medication to kill himself in a very "up front" manner and she said she couldn't help.

She said: "Tom meant to do it. He said if he couldn't live life to the full then it wasn't worth living."

Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon recorded a verdict that Mr Hobkinson had killed himself.