An inquest has heard how Peter Cooke senior fatally stabbed his son, before turning the knife on himselfFaye Preston, Sue Kirby Multi-media Journalist and Ashlie Blakey Live and breaking news reporter
09:53, 18 Oct 2025
Peter Cooke Snr (right) and his son Peter Cooke Jnr(Image: UGC)
An inquest has heard the harrowing tale of a dad who killed his son then took his own life in what was described as a ‘Japanese Yakuza-style’ act of remorse.
Peter Cooke senior fatally stabbed his son Peter Cooke junior then turned the same knife on himself, Yorkshire Live reports. An inquest into their deaths heard how Peter Cooke senior, from Teeside, held an ‘unhealthy’ fascination with weapons and attempted to follow Samurai and Buddhist lifestyles.
He also made his own explosives. The father had previously injured his son’s knee with a knife before severing part of his own finger.
The bodies of the 68-year-old and his 36-year-old son were discovered in a pool of blood at the elder Cooke’s flat on Eaglesfield Road, Owton Manor, Hartlepool, on Friday, March 15 last year, both having suffered stab wounds.
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
Assistant coroner Paul Appleton read from the evidence, stating that Peter Cooke junior, from nearby Ettrick Walk, and his partner, Nadine Caygill, had visited the flat around 5.30pm and had been drinking. Ms Caygill reportedly fell asleep later in the evening and woke to find both men lying on the floor amidst blood and a knife.
Mr Appleton further stated that around 11.30pm, Peter Cooke junior’s half-sister, Kelly Measor, received a call from an apparently intoxicated Nadine, who said ‘the two Peters had both had a tiff’. Upon arriving at the flat, Ms Measor found her brother and his father on the floor.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but both individuals were tragically pronounced dead on arrival, reports Teesside Live. Ms Caygill was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, but forensic examination later proved her innocence and confirmed she had never touched the weapon.
A single large hunting-style knife caused both fatal wounds. Post-mortem results showed that Peter Cooke junior suffered an 18cm deep stab wound to his chest, which pierced his lung and the right side of his heart.
He also had defensive wounds to his hand, suggesting he had tried to grab a blade. Peter Cooke senior also died from a stab wound to his torso.
Cleveland Police initially launched a murder investigation(Image: Teessidelive)
Both men had blood alcohol levels two-and-a-half times over the legal driving limit. Mr Appleton said of the evidence: “Having stabbed Peter Cooke Junior, Peter Cooke senior had then stabbed himself. And that Peter Cooke senior would have seen that as the honourable thing to do.”
Medical records showed that prior to their deaths, Peter Cooke senior had battled diazepam addiction and depression, whilst Peter Cooke junior had asthma and anxiety.
Mr Appleton quoted forensic expert evidence: “Peter Cooke junior was face up from the floor. He appeared to have been turned over. There was heavy blood staining to his clothing. Peter Cooke senior was face down on the floor.”
The inquiry uncovered that Peter Cooke junior’s blood was found on his father’s jeans, implying he had bled onto his lap, and there were blood stains on Peter Cooke senior’s sandals, suggesting he had walked through blood.
Mr Appleton said there was no clear motive or reasoning behind the incident. He said: “This is clearly a tragic case of the deaths of father and son.”
The coroner concluded that all evidence suggests Peter Cooke stabbed his son before stabbing himself in what appeared to be an act of remorse, influenced by Japanese Yakuza practices.
He recorded a verdict of unlawful killing for Peter Cooke junior and determined that Peter Cooke senior died from a self-inflicted stab wound.
AloJapan.com