A FORMER beauty queen found lifeless in her Sevenoaks flat died of alcohol poisoning, hours after her husband had told a friend their marriage was over.

Marina Kolobova-Featherstone's body was discovered dead on the sofa by husband Andrew after they had argued in bed.

Mr Featherstone was arrested on suspicion of murder, although the investigation was dropped a week later, following toxicology reports.

Mrs Kolobova-Featherstone, 27, of Blighs Apartments above The Oak Tree pub, was an alcoholic, her inquest heard.

She and Mr Featherstone, whom she married in August 2010 after they met while travelling in Thailand, were going through marital problems.

West Kent coroner Roger Hatch said the couple were "happy half the time they were together".

But both drank too much and police had been called out to the High Street flat three times in the months leading up to the Ukrainian-born waitress's October 14 death to investigate reports of minor assault.

Speaking at the inquest in Tunbridge Wells, Mr Featherstone said he had encouraged his wife – who worked at London Road restaurant Loch Fyne – to seek treatment for her alcoholism and her father had flown out from Ukraine for a few days to try to help.

But the couple continued arguing and on October 13, Mr Featherstone took leave from his job, telling friends he wanted to fix his relationship.

But that night he and pal Graham Dowson went out drinking and the 33-year-old investment banker told Mr Dowson that his marriage was "over".

That night, Mr Featherstone said, he returned to the flat with a takeaway for he and his wife to share. But after they had gone to bed, an argument erupted and Mrs Kolobova-Featherstone went to sleep on the sofa. At about 2am, he went out to get a glass of water and tried to sit down next to his wife.

Mr Featherstone recalled: "Her feet were very heavy when I tried to move them and it was very dark. I turned on the light and saw dark markings, colouration, all over her face and called 999."

Paramedics could not resuscitate Mrs Kolobova-Featherstone and police arrived on the scene.

Explaining Mr Featherstone's arrest and release, senior investigating officer John Clayden said the coincidence of his attitude to his marriage and his wife's sudden death, "could not be ignored".

Mr Hatch recorded a verdict of misadventure and expressed his sympathies. Mr Featherstone declined to comment after the inquest.