A coroner has ruled the murder suicide of an elderly Christchurch couple was not driven by hatred or violence, but by love

Christchurch couple Jill and William Feary were discovered alongside their cat, in their Burnside home in late September 2019.

Associate Coroner E.L. Van Son has found evidence strongly suggests Feary shot his 77-year-old acutely-ill wife out of deep compassion and love, before taking his own life.

The Coroner says Feary was distraught by his wife's recent hospitalisation, and was worried about her care and whether she would accept help.

The Coroner hasn't made any recommendations.