An elderly couple were found stabbed to death in their house after neighbours broke in because of the bad smell coming from their Yangon house.

The couple lived in Kannout Ward, in Yangon’s Mingala Taungnyunt Township.

Neighbours broke in on 30 October, following complaints about the smell coming from the house, and found the couple’s bodies. it is not known when they were killed, but they had clearly been dead for a while.

A neighbour said: “When the smell got really bad neighbours entered the house and found the couple dead. They had a placid nature, I don’t know why they were murdered.”

The dead couple was named as retired Physics professor Myint Wai and his wife Khin Khin San, a retired teacher. Myint Wai also wrote popular science books including General Relativity and Quantum Theory under the pseudonym Takkatho Kye Pwint.

The motive for the murders is unknown, but neighbours said it might have been robbery because, according to them, some valuables were missing from the house.

Crime in Myanmar has increased since the coup. Crimes such as murder, robbery, burglary and pickpocketing have become more common in urban areas this year.

The judicial system in Myanmar has collapsed since the coup, which has emboldened people to commit crimes as they feel there is less chance of them facing justice.

A Yangon resident said: “There are more and more unemployed and poor people. The justice system is already broken, which means there is less risk for criminals. As a result robberies and murders are increasing.”