Businessman shot wife and daughter

Apr 3 2009

Ruined millionaire Christopher Foster unlawfully killed his wife and teenage daughter by shooting them in the head before taking his own life, a coroner has ruled.

The inquest at Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court was told that the 50-year-old businessman had killed Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15, "almost certainly" as they slept in their beds at their £1.2m mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire.

Coroner for mid and north Shropshire, John Ellery, said: "Mrs Jill Foster and her daughter Miss Kirstie Foster were both shot in the head.

"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."

He said Mr Foster had "quickly and methodically" killed his family and set their £1.2m mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire, on fire in August last year.