Police quiz married couple over murder of millionaire in raid on luxury home
A MARRIED couple were questioned last night over the murder of a marketing executive during a burglary at his £1million home.
Helen and Scott Keeping were held after masked intruders shot Guy Hedger in front of his terrified partner and fled with jewellery and designer watches.
Detectives questioned the pair, aged 40 and 44, over allegations of conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated burglary after raiding their flat in Bournemouth, 13 miles from Mr Hedger’s home on the outskirts of the New Forest in St Ives, Dorset.
Another 41-year- old man from Bournemouth was arrested on suspicion of murder and aggravated burglary. A fourth man aged 40 was arrested on the same charges after armed officers raided a house in Blandford, Dorset, last night.
The dramatic developments followed a huge police manhunt after the ruthless killing of Mr Hedger at around 3am on Sunday morning.
Balaclava- clad burglars broke into his luxury six-bedroom property in a quiet cul-
de- sac and blasted the 61-year- old with a shotgun in front of his partner of 12 years, Simon-Pierre Hedger-Cooper.
Mr Hedger was a director of the Avonbourne International Business and Enterprise Trust, which runs colleges and a primary school in the Bournemouth area.
firmed Relatives they of had the been Keepings arrested yesterdayin connectionconwith the investigation.
The Keepings were married at Poole register office in September 2015. Armed officers broke down the front door of their threebedroom home on Tuesday. Forensic officers carried out a fingertip search of the home.
Superintendent Kevin Connolly, of Dorset Police, thanked the public for coming forward with information after the arrests.
As he spoke, police scoured a second property in Winterborne Stickland, a village of thatched cottages 25 miles from the murder scene, near Blandford.
He also appealed for more information from anyone who saw suspicious activity in West Howe or Winterborne Stickland at around 3am on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, a classical singer who performed at Mr Hedger and Mr Cooper’s civil partnership cer- emony at Brighton Town Hall in May 2006 paid tribute to them. Jennifer Jones said: ‘I was friends with both men and they were lovely, lovely people. ‘Guy was an extremely highpowered executive but was the nicest, most unassuming man. He mixed in high-powered circles and was very high-ranking though you would never know because he was so welcoming, friendly and mod- est. I remember one day Simon told me Guy was busy as he was having dinner with Gordon Brown. Simon was very, very caring and generous with his time. He carried out all sorts of voluntary work within the community.’ She added: ‘He worked with the church and with the homeless organisation and was well respected by everyone. They were both very popular.’ Miss Jones said the civil ceremony in Brighton was ‘magical’ and said she felt honoured to be asked to sing for them. She sang Handel’s Art Thou Troubled at the ceremony, and at the reception at the couple’s flat she and Simon sang a duet of Blue Moon for Guy. She said the civil partnership was attended by around 30 guests. Miss Jones continued: ‘It was a lovely day and everyone was overjoyed for them. It was a magical day for everyone.’ During the ceremony the couple took their vows saying: ‘I promise to be loving, faithful and loyal to him for the rest of our lives together’ before exchanging rings.
Miss Jones added: ‘ Afterwards we all went back to their Regency house for the reception which was also lovely.’