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/7981103.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Mansion blaze man killed family | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A failed businessman unlawfully killed his wife and daughter before killing himself, a coroner has recorded. | A failed businessman unlawfully killed his wife and daughter before killing himself, a coroner has recorded. |
| Christopher Foster, 50, shot Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15, while they slept before burning the family mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire, last August. | |
| The inquest saw CCTV footage showing Mr Foster setting fire to his luxury home and walking around with an object thought to be a gun. | The inquest saw CCTV footage showing Mr Foster setting fire to his luxury home and walking around with an object thought to be a gun. |
| The inquest heard Mr Foster had debts of at least £1.2m. | The inquest heard Mr Foster had debts of at least £1.2m. |
| His thermal insulation business Ulva Ltd had gone into liquidation in 2007. | His thermal insulation business Ulva Ltd had gone into liquidation in 2007. |
| Shot 'while asleep' | Shot 'while asleep' |
| Recording his verdict, coroner John Ellery said Mrs Foster and her daughter had "everything to live for". | |
| He added: "Mrs Jill Foster and her daughter Miss Kirstie Foster were both shot in the head. | He added: "Mrs Jill Foster and her daughter Miss Kirstie Foster were both shot in the head. |
| The £1.2m mansion was destroyed in the fire | |
| "They were shot in their respective bedrooms almost certainly whilst asleep. | "They were shot in their respective bedrooms almost certainly whilst asleep. |
| "They both had everything to live for and Kirstie had her teenage and adult life ahead of her." | "They both had everything to live for and Kirstie had her teenage and adult life ahead of her." |
| He said Mr Foster had "quickly and methodically" killed his family and set their £1.2m home on fire. | He said Mr Foster had "quickly and methodically" killed his family and set their £1.2m home on fire. |
| He said he was likely to have shot his wife first and then his daughter, to avoid the risk of his wife's "interception". | |
| A Home Office pathologist found Mr Foster died as a result of smoke inhalation but a loaded rifle was recovered from near his body. | |
| Facing bankruptcy | |
| Mr Ellery said it would never be known whether Mr Foster had intended to turn the gun on himself before he was overcome by the smoke. | |
| The Shrewsbury inquest heard Mr Foster was facing personal bankruptcy and had told his GP he felt suicidal. | |
| He had also told a business associate, Mark Bassett, he would rather take his own life than lose his family home. | |
| Financial investigator Patrick Kelly said Mr Foster had mortgaged his home three times and had 20 different bank accounts, one of which was overdrawn by £330,000. | |
| When his company was put into liquidation, a £3m freezing order was put on his assets, leaving him without an income. | |
| Det Supt John Groves, of West Mercia Police, said outside the inquest it was a "very sad case and tragic case". | Det Supt John Groves, of West Mercia Police, said outside the inquest it was a "very sad case and tragic case". |
| He added: "Now the inquest has concluded and we have the verdicts I hope it offers some sort of closure to the Fosters' loved ones and they can begin to move forward and rebuild their lives." | He added: "Now the inquest has concluded and we have the verdicts I hope it offers some sort of closure to the Fosters' loved ones and they can begin to move forward and rebuild their lives." |