THE wife of a millionaire Liverpool property developer died of hypothermia and alcohol poisoning in the back of a car.
The body of Nicole Falkingham was discovered inside the black Vauxhall Insignia outside a house in Otterspool, south Liverpool, on Friday morning.
The provisional results of a Home Office post mortem revealed Mrs Falkingham froze to death, but final confirmation will depend on the results of toxicology tests.
Police were called to the scene in leafy Eastwood, near St Michael’s station, at about 10am by the car’s owners.
They also discovered a cannabis factory inside the property, with more than 100 plants.
The 48-year-old man and 49-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and cultivation of cannabis.
They were later released on bail pending further enquiries.
Police say Mrs Falkingham, the estranged wife of Liverpool’s Urban Splash chief executive Jonathan Falkingham, was out drinking with the pair at the Vinci bar on Allerton Road on Thursday night.
It is believed they stayed in the bar for five and a half hours from about 3.30pm until 9pm, before all three left together.
A force spokesman said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the bar during that time, or anyone who may have seen Nicole after leaving the bar.
“She was wearing a black puffa jacket with a brown fur trimmed hood, black leggings and black Hunter wellington boots.”
Devastated friends of former PA Mrs Falkingham, of Allerton, continued to pay tribute to her yesterday.
Dee Diamond posted on Facebook: “I’m totally devastated, my bestest girl NiciNu, Nicole Falkingham, has gone.
“We had the most amazing times together, you are the most beautiful, funny girl, wonderful girl that ever was.
“You will always be my sister. We are all totally lost without you, rest in peace special girl.”
Lisa Blankstone, who grew up with Mrs Falkingham, said: “We still don’t really know what has happened.
“It’s so sad. Nicole was always a beautiful girl and everyone loved her. She was looking forward to her future and had a new partner. Everything was looking up for her and for this to happen now is just terrible.”
Mr Falkingham, who changed his Facebook status to single on New Year’s Eve, posted a picture of his wife on his page as tribute today.
Anyone with information which could help police with their inquiries should contact Admiral Street CID on 0151 777 5394, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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