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‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ twins Billy and Joey Smith spent last evening by campfire before taking their lives

“Both appeared to be struggling with their mental health. One did not want to leave the other behind,” the inquest into their deaths heard
PUBLISHED SEP 10, 2020
Bill and Joe Smith (Channel 4/Firecracker Films)
Bill and Joe Smith (Channel 4/Firecracker Films)

An inquest has heard that ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ twins Billy and Joey Smith enjoyed their last evening together before taking their own lives. The dead bodies of the brothers were found on December 28, 2019, in Sevenoaks, Kent, in the UK where they used to play as children. 

Their uncle Phinemore Smith made the grisly discovery after he received a suicide note, which stated: “We have decided to leave this life behind us. You will find us in the woods by granny's where we used to have fires. Take care. We are right where we want to be." Two knives stabbed in a tree were also found. The tree had their initials and “2020” written over it, The Mirror reported.

The inquest into their deaths was held on Wednesday, September 9, at County Hall in Maidstone, Kent. Detective Sergeant Nicola Mullins, of Kent Police, said how "they just wanted to be together". From the site of their deaths, an empty bottle of Jack Daniels with two glasses was found. The chairs on which the two sat were also there, while the campfire was still smoldering.

“Both appeared to be struggling with their mental health. One did not want to leave the other behind,” Mullins added. Assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon described the deaths of the brothers as a “tragic and sad story” while addressing the family members of the twins at the inquest. “These twins were inseparable in their lives together,” he said as reported by The Metro.

According to reports, days before their deaths, Billy and Joey -- who worked as tree surgeons and turned 32 on December 16 -- had spent time together on a month-long holiday in Thailand. After their return, they both were noted making comments about killing themselves. The inquest was also told that the brothers had a history of depression and other medical problems.

Joey, who was a father to two children, had bladder cancer since 2018 while his brother was suffering from long-standing back and leg pain. Billy was also prescribed antidepressants for his anxiety and depression since December 2017, his GP Dr Greenwood said. Not just that, he was also receiving cognitive behavior therapy after he said he “didn't see the point of existence". Billy had once said that he would take his life when he turned 40 by hanging himself and said "he would just do it as his mind had been made up".

The inquest on Wednesday heard that their cause of death was given as suspension. Blunsdon said, “It is a tragic and sad story of these young men coming to a decision that there was nothing further to live for and the protective factor which each provided to the other was removed when they both reached the decision there was nothing left to live for.” He also recorded a conclusion of suicide.

After their deaths, a funeral procession was held that passed through Sevenoaks on February 14. Hundreds of people gathered to say their goodbyes while tributes poured in on social media. 'Celebrity Big Brother' winner Paddy Doherty said at the time, “I’m very sorry for their troubles from the bottom of my heart. May God look after them, may God have mercy on them. They are two angels, harmless, they were unbelievable”. “Hardest day of my life. RIP my perfect bill you were so pure so lovely. You made me the happiest girl. Did everything for me showed me love i never had,” Bill’s partner, Kristina Delaney, wrote.

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