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Signs of botched robbery at Spanish home of British couple shot dead Signs of botched robbery at Spanish home of British couple shot dead
(35 minutes later)
Signs of a botched robbery have reportedly been found at the Spanish home of a former British Olympic diver and his wife, who were found shot dead on their sofa.Signs of a botched robbery have reportedly been found at the Spanish home of a former British Olympic diver and his wife, who were found shot dead on their sofa.
Peter and Jean Tarsey, both 77, were discovered at their three-bedroomed villa in the Spanish village of Xalo near Benidorm, after friends who ate lunch with them every Sunday raised the alarm. Peter and Jean Tarsey, both 77, were discovered at their three-bedroomed villa in the Spanish village of Xalo, near Benidorm, after friends who ate lunch with them every Sunday raised the alarm.
A locksmith found an attempt had been made to drill through the retired couple’s safe, leaving incision marks on the combination lock, according to media reports quoting local sources close to the investigation.A locksmith found an attempt had been made to drill through the retired couple’s safe, leaving incision marks on the combination lock, according to media reports quoting local sources close to the investigation.
There have also been claims that a TV was stolen and a computer was found in the swimming pool.There have also been claims that a TV was stolen and a computer was found in the swimming pool.
Police found the couple on their sofa on Sunday evening, each with various gunshot wounds from a small calibre weapon. The case is being treated as murder.Police found the couple on their sofa on Sunday evening, each with various gunshot wounds from a small calibre weapon. The case is being treated as murder.
The Tarseys, who had lived in Spain for 18 years, had two grown-up sons Alexei, understod to live in London, and Sascha who lives in Palma de Mallorca. The Tarseys, who had lived in Spain for 18 years, had two grown-up sons Alexei, who is understood to live in London, and Sascha, who lives in Palma de Mallorca.
Susan Keightley, a neighbour in Spain, told reporters the couple had been trying to sell their home in order to live nearer Sascha. They are believed to have put their property up for sale for €230,000 last February. Susan Keightley, a neighbour in Spain, told reporters the couple had been trying to sell their home in order to live nearer Sascha. They are believed to have put their property up for sale for €230,000 (£167,000) last February.
She said: “They had been burgled a couple of times, once at Christmas, about 10 years ago, and also before that one summer. But that was a long time ago and not something they were particularly worried about recently.”She said: “They had been burgled a couple of times, once at Christmas, about 10 years ago, and also before that one summer. But that was a long time ago and not something they were particularly worried about recently.”
Keightley said Peter Tarsey usually went by his middle name David. “He had been an Olympic diver and a few years ago, we used to dive into their swimming pool from the garden wall.Keightley said Peter Tarsey usually went by his middle name David. “He had been an Olympic diver and a few years ago, we used to dive into their swimming pool from the garden wall.
“He was an engineer back in the UK and had sold his business when they moved to Spain.”“He was an engineer back in the UK and had sold his business when they moved to Spain.”
Jean Tarsey worked for local charities including one looking after abandoned dogs, he said. Jean Tarsey worked for local charities, including one looking after abandoned dogs, she said.
Peter Tarsey competed for Britain as a diver at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and in two Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in 1958.Peter Tarsey competed for Britain as a diver at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and in two Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in 1958.
The case has been placed under sumario secreto, meaning the police will not comment further at least until postmortems have been carried out. The case has been placed under sumario secreto, meaning the police will not comment further at least until postmortem examinations have been carried out.
Xalo, a village of around 2,700 people, is located inland some 25 miles north from the popular coastal resort of Benidorm. Xalo, a village of around 2,700 people, is located inland some 25 miles north of the coastal resort of Benidorm.
The village mayor, Joan Miquel Garces, told the Spain Report website that investigators had ruled out domestic violence and suicide.The village mayor, Joan Miquel Garces, told the Spain Report website that investigators had ruled out domestic violence and suicide.
“It’s a very strange feeling because nothing like this has ever happened here before,” he said. “We all know each other, it’s very strange.” “It’s a very strange feeling, because nothing like this has ever happened here before,” he said. “We all know each other, it’s very strange.”
AJ Barnett, who lives in Xalo, tweeted: “It’s a sleepy little Spanish backwater, not a violent city centre.”AJ Barnett, who lives in Xalo, tweeted: “It’s a sleepy little Spanish backwater, not a violent city centre.”
A spokeswoman for the Guardia Civil police force said: “The Guardia Civil is now awaiting the results of postmortem examinations and investigations continue.” A spokeswoman for the Spanish police said: “The Guardia Civil is now awaiting the results of postmortem examinations and investigations continue.”