© JN Visuals'Volatile relationship': Paul Charles, a former policeman, died after driving over a cliff in an apparent suicide pact with his estranged wife.
Father-of-four Paul Charles and wife Jacqueline were killed instantly when their car crashed through a barbed wire fence and plummeted on to jagged rocks at an Isle of Wight beauty spot.
He is understood to have become depressed after the breakdown of his five-year relationship and legal issues surrounding some of his children, aged 11 to 24, from one of his two previous marriages.
Four weeks ago, he moved out of the flat he shared with his 48-year-old wife, who also had two children from a previous relationship, in the resort of Ryde, to a terraced house in Sandown with his daughter aged 12.
A neighbour said Mrs Charles had suffered mental health problems, and had tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion.
The couple were seen sitting in a Renault Scenic in a National Trust car park at Culver Down on Wednesday evening.
At about 8pm witnesses saw the car suddenly start 'gunning down' the hill before shooting over the cliff edge.
Yesterday the car's mangled wreckage was winched from the rocks by RAF Chinook helicopter.
Last night, the family of Mr Charles, 53, paid tribute to a 'loving father, son and brother who will be dearly missed'.
© JN VisualsGrieving: Mr Charles' mother, sister, two daughters and two sons lay flowers at the point on the cliff where the car plunged on to the beach below.
© JN VisualsTragedy: Mr Charles' children and his mother reflect on the tragedy at the beauty spot where the couple died.
© JN VisualsRetired Mr Charles, aged 53, of Sandown, Isle of Wight, and wife Jacqueline, aged 48, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, had both been married before.
© JN Visuals
© JN VisualsTragic: Mr Charles' daughters comfort each other. The couple died instantly after the car plunged from the cliff.
© JN VisualsMr Charles' children and other family members pause to reflect at the spot where two days ago the couple died.
© UnknownCrash site: The couple and their vehicle were found at the base (circled) of Culver Down cliffs.
© JN VisualsWreckage: The crumpled wreckage of the blue Renault lies among the rocks at the base of the cliff.
'He had even just booked a holiday with his youngest daughter.'
She added: 'He had three heart attacks so had to retire from the Met Police. He moved to the Isle of Wight to look after me after the death of his father 17 years ago.
'He was very unhappy in his marriage with Jacqui and he had seemed a lot happier after they split up.
'The police have told me that they have found a suicide note at his house and at Jacqui's house, but we don't know what it said as they won't tell us yet.'
© PAPolice cordoned off the scene of the crash at Culver Down whilst the vehicle was recovered.
© Solent News and Photo AgencyEvidence: A coastguard rescue officer carries the bumper of the crashed car from the base of the cliff.
The friend, who did not wish to be named, said: 'He wasn't violent. He wasn't necessarily a ladies' man, but he was quite charming. I'm surprised about this. It's completely out of character.'
Last night a neighbour of Mrs Charles, a former legal secretary with two children, said she had been in a 'fragile state of mind'.
Lauren Woodman, 25, said: 'She and Paul were going through a break-up. She would tell me she wanted to end it all because she loved him so much. So part of me wasn't shocked when I heard.
'I'm more shocked about Paul. They were both very passionate about each other. It was a volatile relationship.'
© JN VisualsTragic: Police were on duty outside the Sandown home of the couple whilst investigations continued.
© PA
...meet Thelma and Louise.