Princess Anne's dog trainer shot dead his estranged wife before turning the gun on himself, an inquest heard.
John Frederick Zurick died in Plymouth's Derriford Hospital five days after he killed 56-year-old Debbie in Winsford, Exmoor on February 22.
An inquest has now opened into John's death.
At the Plymouth hearing, a coroner's officer said the Southampton born 67-year-old was separated from his wife.
The hearing confirmed that he had died from a shotgun wound to his head.
The coroner Ian Arrow was told that Avon and Somerset police are carrying out a murder investigation into the death of Mrs Zurick.
Mr and Mrs Zurick were neighbours of Stanley Johnson - the father of PM Boris Johnson .
In an interview for the Clumber Working Spaniels Society website six months ago Mr Zurick told how he trained Princess Anne's dog Sparkle.
The couple were part of the Working Clumber Spaniel Society, of which Princess Anne is president, and lived nearby Prime Minister Boris Johnson's father's 14th-century farmhouse residence.
The inquest was adjourned and the case will be passed on to a coroner in Somerset who is dealing with Mrs Zurick's death.
DCI Neil Rice, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, previously said: “This is a tragic incident and detectives, investigators and crime scene specialists are working closely with local uniformed officers to examine the scene and reassure the local community.
“My team and I will continue to co-operate with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on their investigation.
“There has been a large police presence in the small hamlet of Winsford and I would like to thank the local community for their patience, co-operation and support while we conducted our investigations.
"I would like anyone with concerns, worries or any information to speak to their local neighbourhood officers either face-to-face, by calling 101, or contacting us through our website.”
