A MOTHER of two was stabbed to death by her boyfriend who put her body in bed and pretended nothing had happened for several days before killing himself, an inquest heard.

Police broke into a house at The Glebe, Durweston, near Blandford, on September 11 last year and discovered the body of shop worker Laura Cody, 38.

Her partner, unemployed 36-year-old Adrian Green, was found in the house after hanging himself.

Speaking after an inquest at Dorchester, DI John Crossland said: "The evidence has always pointed to the fact that Adrian Green was the only person that could have been responsible for Laura's murder. This is a tragic case where the man who should have protected and cared for Laura instead took her life."

Police found Mrs Cody dead from a single stab wound to the chest. Her bloodstained clothes had been cut off and placed in a bin bag nearby.

She had been cleaned up and "laid out", with arms folded and the covers drawn up to her chin.

Tape had been placed over the wound and tests showed Mr Green's thumbprint on this tape. His bloodstained clothes were found in the bathroom and a knife that could have been the murder weapon was found in an upstairs bedroom.

The court heard Mrs Cody was last seen, with Mr Green, at the Greyhound pub in Blandford, after finishing work at the Key Store, in Headington Drive, on September 7.

Later that evening Mr Green called the store to say his girlfriend was ill and would be off work the next day.

He returned to the pub that night and again for the next three nights, where he told various stories to explain Mrs Cody's absence, all of which later proved untrue.

He was last seen being dropped off at home by taxi on September 10.

Police were alerted by Mrs Cody's manager, Stuart Adam, who was concerned that Mrs Cody could not be reached.

The inquest heard Mrs Cody had confided in friends that she had suffered violence at the hands of Mr Green. He was drinking but not bringing in any money.

Coroner Michael Johnston said: "Mrs Cody was highly valued and it is indeed evil that a nice person should be suddenly taken out of this world for absolutely no reason."

Mr Johnston concluded that Mrs Cody was unlawfully killed and Mr Green took his own life.