A British businessman was stabbed to death by his vengeful ex-wife when she confronted him and his new girlfriend as their two children slept in their bedrooms, an inquest heard today.

Michael Simpson, 34, was knifed in the neck and back by his Chinese ex-wife Wei-Wei Fu during the violent domestic row in his apartment in Shanghai.

As Mr Simpson lay dying, the mother of his two children then slashed his partner Rachel Lin's arms 'to the bone', leaving her in a critical condition.

Michael Simpson, pictured with his two children, Alice and Jack, was killed by their mother, after he started a new relationship, an inquest has heard

Mr Simpson, who was an operations manager for Next and was overseeing the retailer's expansion in the Far East, died moments later from the 2ins wound to the neck.

He had no defensive wounds, suggesting Fu attacked him suddenly with a concealed knife when the argument turned violent.

Fu will go on trial next Monday in China for the intentional murder of Mr Simpson and could face up to 50 years in prison.

But the inquest heard his parents have not been able to see or speak to their two grandchildren, Jack, 7, and Alice, 4, since his death in March this year as they are with Fu's family.

His ex-wife Wei-Wei Fu will go on trial in China next month accused of murder

Mr Simpson was from Wimborne, Dorset, but had lived in China since 2009 after moving there for a job.

He met Fu, a store assistant, soon after arriving and they got married and had two children together.

But they separated in 2015 and Mr Simpson became romantically involved with British university educated Ms Lin.

On March 20, Fu arrived at Mr Simpson's apartment armed with a knife with two friends and a row broke out.

It had been previously been reported that Fu had tried to blackmail Mr Simpson and Ms Lin over embarrassing material she had of her.

Fu the pulled out the knife and stabbed her former husband before attacking Ms Lin.

Mr Simpson's brother Andrew, 37, told the hearing: 'My brother and Rachel were attacked by his estranged wife who he had been separated from for two years.

'Within seconds of arriving at the apartment with her friends she attacked Michael with a knife, then Rachel, as the two children were asleep in the apartment.

'He quickly died and she was in critical condition.'

Home Office pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffrey said Mr Simpson confirmed the neck wound led to Mr Simpson's death.

He separated from Fu in 2015 and became romantically involved with Rachel Lin (pictured)

Dorset assistant coroner Richard Middleton recorded a verdict of 'unlawful death' at the Bournemouth inquest.

He said: 'Mr Simpson had separated from his wife and the divorce was ongoing.

'On March 20 he was confronted by his estranged wife at his home address and it appears his estranged wife has taken to his property a knife and during a heated argument has used the knife to stab Michael Simpson with it.

'I'm satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he has been killed without any legal justification or excuse and I would therefore enter a conclusion of unlawful killing.'

Mr Simpson's children are still with Fu's brother in China and Mr Simpson's parents, Ian and retired IT consultant, and mother Linda are embroiled in a legal battle to win custody of them and bring them back to England.

The couple were not today's inquest in Bournemouth as they are in China's for Fu's trial.

Mr Simpson was from Dorset, but had lived in China since 2009 after moving there for a job

They have had to set up a Crowdfunding page and to raise £35,000 to pay for their legal fees and for medical care for Ms Lin, who can no longer use her right arm after the attack.

Andrew Simpson told the inquest the family's grief had been compounded by them being unable to see Jack and Alice.

He said: 'Michael loved working but his overwhelming passion was his two children, Jack and Alice. When he was not working he would spend every minute of the day with them.

'We've not seen or heard from the children since Michael's passing because they were taken away by his ex-wife's brother the next morning.

'When we are trying to grieve there is a fight to try and see the children. We just want to get them home.'

A spokesman for the Next said: 'Michael Simpson was a much liked and long-standing NEXT colleague who was working in China when he died.'