Mechanic Kills Wife Of 30 Years Then Commits Suicide By Jumping In Front Of Train

A mechanic is believed to have murdered his wife and then killed himself when he was hit by a train.

Nigel Maude, 58, died on the tracks near the rural village of Hoghton, Lancashire, on Sunday morning.
British Transport Police went to his home nearby to inform his wife of 30 years Judith where they found her body in an upstairs bedroom.

Detectives with Lancashire Police have now started a murder investigation but say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Today, neighbours spoke of their shock at the deaths of a 'happy and quiet' couple, who had two daughters and four grandchildren.

Mr Maude worked as a mechanic and lived with his wife in a semi-detached home in Charles Crescent in Hoghton. They had lived there since inheriting the property from his parents.

Next door neighbour, Celia Livesey: 'They were a devoted couple and all they lived for was their family. They were very quiet and very pleasant. I only really saw them to say hello over the fence.

'They loved their grandchildren, they had four grandchildren, one girl and three boys.

'The first time I knew anything was about 8.30pm and saw all the police and the ambulance.

'Judith didn’t work and Nigel worked at Leyland Motors, I don’t think he was retired. I’m just so shocked, I really can’t believe it.'

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 'I knew them both, if you were to say "who is a couple who never argued" you would say them.

'I had known him since primary school and known Judith since she was 15. I still can’t believe it has happened.'

'He served as a mechanic before going to Leyland Motors. I don’t think he has been very well and I think he may have been in hospital but I don’t know why.

'They were together all the time. They liked walking. They have been married 30-odd years.

'You couldn’t ask for a nicer couple and couldn’t find a bad word to say about him. He was a Preston North End supporter.

'He couldn’t fall out with anyone if he tried. He was a real family man, he was devoted to his grandchildren.'

Detective Superintendent Paul Withers from the Force Major Investigation Team said: 'An investigation is underway to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened. We are still at the very early stages of our enquiry but at this moment in time we do not believe we are looking for anyone else in connection with the enquiry.'

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