An 82-year-old senior citizen allegedly slit his wife’s throat and then attempted to take his own life, believing that their illnesses were causing distress to their children and preventing them from living peacefully.

The incident took place on Saturday night in Karadiwadi, in Vasai West. Police have identified the deceased as Arpina Gabriel Pereira, 74, and the husband as Gabriel Francis Pereira, 82. According to police sources, Gabriel allegedly slit his wife’s throat with a kitchen knife and then attempted to take his own life by trying to slit his throat, hand, and abdomen.

Police sources said the couple lived with their 51-year-old son, Bruno, his wife, and their children. Police said that on Saturday evening, Bruno, his wife, and daughter had gone to visit a relative. When they returned around 11 pm, Bruno found his mother lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom and his father gravely injured. Both were rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared Arpina dead, while Gabriel was admitted for further treatment.