Couple die in US

A kiwi husband and wife have been found dead in the United States with gunshot wounds in what police believe was a double suicide.

Barry Kelson Watson, 64, and Beverly June Watson, 62, were found dead in their home on March 17 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Watson's business partner Lester Abbey said the couple fulfilled a lifelong dream when they moved to the US 10 years ago. But Watson had become depressed after growing disillusioned with his US life, Abbey said.

"Barry was a very interesting guy, quite intelligent. He was very close to Bev, and Bev was very close to him.

"He was a very likeable guy. People were very shocked."

Speaking from Salt Lake City, Abbey said his former business partner had become isolated in the past three months.

He added: "He left the business in good order."

Abbey is in the process of appointing someone to head the company's US branch.

The couple lived in Taylorsville City, 14km from Salt Lake City centre. Assistant Chief of Police Wayne Diel said: "It appears to be a double suicide. It appears to be a personal decision on each other's part."