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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tank pipes 'led into fire house' | Tank pipes 'led into fire house' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pipes from an outside oil tank were found going into the house where a man is thought to have killed his wife and daughter, an inquest has heard. | Pipes from an outside oil tank were found going into the house where a man is thought to have killed his wife and daughter, an inquest has heard. |
| Police believe Christopher Foster, 50, who had debts of £1.2m, killed Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15, before burning their mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire. | Police believe Christopher Foster, 50, who had debts of £1.2m, killed Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15, before burning their mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire. |
| His friend John Hughes told the hearing he arrived at the "horrendous fire" just after 0400 BST on 26 August 2008. | His friend John Hughes told the hearing he arrived at the "horrendous fire" just after 0400 BST on 26 August 2008. |
| He said the pump from the oil tank used to heat the home was on the floor. | He said the pump from the oil tank used to heat the home was on the floor. |
| Mr Hughes, who lives a mile away, told the Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court hearing that a third of Osbaston House was alight and crews were trying to tackle the blaze. | Mr Hughes, who lives a mile away, told the Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court hearing that a third of Osbaston House was alight and crews were trying to tackle the blaze. |
| Firm's collapse | Firm's collapse |
| Robert Moseley, a neighbouring farmer, said he heard gunshots and explosions coming from the house sometime between 0200 and 0400 BST. | |
| He told the inquest he heard "about four shots, maybe more", fired with a few minutes gap in between, lasting about 15 minutes in total. | |
| A few hours beforehand, Kirstie had been chatting to a close friend on MSN Messenger, the inquest was told. | |
| The 16-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, said in a statement read out to the hearing they had been talking about Kirstie's recent break up with her boyfriend, as well as an argument with another girl at school, when Kirstie suddenly went offline. | |
| At 2333 she said she received a text from Kirstie that read: "Sorry, dad turned off the internet xxx." | |
| They continued texting until 0014 BST when Kirstie sent a text to her friend that read: "I'm off to sleep now, night night, love you." | |
| Her friend replied: "Night night, love you Kirstie", which was the last contact they ever had. | |
| The family died after the August Bank Holiday weekend | The family died after the August Bank Holiday weekend |
| The previous day the Foster family had spent Bank Holiday Monday at a barbeque and clay pigeon shoot at the home of their friend John Hughes. | |
| Mr Hughes told the inquest they had "seemed happy". | |
| He said: "During the day they seemed to be in very good spirits and seemed fine but as they came to leave, Chris was very insistent that they did leave. | He said: "During the day they seemed to be in very good spirits and seemed fine but as they came to leave, Chris was very insistent that they did leave. |
| "Jill and Kirstie wanted to stay, he wanted to go. I just think he was tired." | "Jill and Kirstie wanted to stay, he wanted to go. I just think he was tired." |
| Mr Hughes, who was among people at the barbeque giving evidence, said his friend had told him he was owed money. | Mr Hughes, who was among people at the barbeque giving evidence, said his friend had told him he was owed money. |
| "He was quite stressed that this company had not paid him any money," he said. | "He was quite stressed that this company had not paid him any money," he said. |
| Mr Foster's thermal insulation firm Ulva Ltd went into liquidation in October 2007. | Mr Foster's thermal insulation firm Ulva Ltd went into liquidation in October 2007. |
| It led to a £3m freezing order being put on his assets, leaving him without an income, the inquest has heard. | It led to a £3m freezing order being put on his assets, leaving him without an income, the inquest has heard. |
| A GP has told the inquest that four months before his death, Mr Foster spoke to him about his business problems and said he felt like taking his own life. | A GP has told the inquest that four months before his death, Mr Foster spoke to him about his business problems and said he felt like taking his own life. |
| A Home Office pathologist has told the hearing Mr Foster probably died as a result of smoke inhalation. | A Home Office pathologist has told the hearing Mr Foster probably died as a result of smoke inhalation. |