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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man filmed setting fire to house | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| CCTV footage showing a man setting fire to his luxury home after he is believed to have killed his wife and daughter has been shown to an inquest. | |
| Police believe Christopher Foster, 50, who had debts of £1.2m, killed Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15, before burning the mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire. | |
| Mr Foster is shown carrying a long item, thought to be a gun, and holding objects thought to be his dead dogs. | |
| Explosions followed by smoke are visible. | |
| These are thought to be the stables at the back of Osbaston house in Maesbrook, Shropshire, catch fire. | |
| '100% sure' | |
| When asked by coroner John Ellery whether the figure was her son, his mother, Enid Foster replied: "I think it was." | |
| Family friend Tracey Jones told the inquest she was "100% sure" it was Mr Foster. | |
| The £1.2m mansion was destroyed in the fire | |
| She said she knew it was him from the way he walked, adding: "I wish I could say it wasn't, but I can't." | |
| The inquest was earlier told pipes from an outside oil tank were found going into the house. | |
| Mr Foster's friend, John Hughes, said 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 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. | 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. | 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. | A few hours beforehand, Kirstie had been chatting to a close friend on MSN Messenger, the inquest was told. |
| A 16-year-old girl, 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 BST 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." | 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 had. | |
| 'Seemed happy' | |
| 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. | 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". | 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. |