This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/shropshire/7595384.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Mansion body tests 'to take days' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A third body found at a burnt-out mansion where a man is thought to have killed his wife, daughter and himself may take days to identify, say police. | |
Christopher Foster, 50, and his wife Jillian, 49, were found in the ruins of Osbaston House, Maesbrook, Shropshire, which was set alight on 26 August. | Christopher Foster, 50, and his wife Jillian, 49, were found in the ruins of Osbaston House, Maesbrook, Shropshire, which was set alight on 26 August. |
The other body is thought to be that of their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie. | The other body is thought to be that of their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie. |
Det Supt Jon Groves said a post-mortem examination had been carried out, but had proved inconclusive. | |
"We are also having to carry out further tests with regard to establishing the cause of death with Christopher Foster and the body we believe to be Kirstie," he said. | |
"It will be sometime into next week, and possibly longer, before we have those results."Forensic officers have carried out fingertip searches of the house | |
West Mercia Police said CCTV footage retrieved from the property showed a man thought to be Mr Foster carrying a gun. | |
It showed him walking away from the stables and the outbuildings going up in flames. | |
It is believed the businessman killed his family before setting fire to their home and turning the gun on himself. | |
Mrs Foster died from a gunshot to the head. | |
Ballistic tests are being conducted on a .22 rifle recovered from the house on Friday to establish whether it was the murder weapon. | |
Three horses and four dogs were also found shot dead in different parts of the house and its grounds. | |
Detectives have said the investigation is expected to take months to complete. | |
'Doting' father | 'Doting' father |
The couple's teenage daughter Kirstie had been online until about 0100 BST - about three hours before the fire began. | |
The head teacher at Ellesmere College, the private school which she had attended since 2006, said Mr Foster had "doted" on his daughter. | |
Brendan Wignall said Kirstie was a "lovely girl", a "very kind person" and an "all-round sportswoman" who loved horses. | Brendan Wignall said Kirstie was a "lovely girl", a "very kind person" and an "all-round sportswoman" who loved horses. |
He added: "In many ways it's not unexpected but it's still deeply shocking and upsetting to have it pretty much confirmed that Kirstie's dead. | He added: "In many ways it's not unexpected but it's still deeply shocking and upsetting to have it pretty much confirmed that Kirstie's dead. |
"The Fosters always seemed to me to be a very close, loving and united family." | "The Fosters always seemed to me to be a very close, loving and united family." |
He said a special service would be held for Kirstie at the school. | He said a special service would be held for Kirstie at the school. |
Mr Foster had made his fortune developing insulation technology for oil rigs. | Mr Foster had made his fortune developing insulation technology for oil rigs. |
But court documents show his company, Ulva Ltd, had gone into liquidation and owed about £800,000 in tax. | But court documents show his company, Ulva Ltd, had gone into liquidation and owed about £800,000 in tax. |
It also faced legal action from one of its suppliers for thousands of pounds. | It also faced legal action from one of its suppliers for thousands of pounds. |