Couple quizzed over millionaire murder
Armed police arrest pair in their 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.
A 41-year-old man from Bournemouth was arrested on suspicion of murder and aggravated burglary. A man aged 40 was also 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 around 3am on Sunday.
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.
Relatives of the Keepings yesterday confirmed they had been arrested in connection with the investigation.
The Keepings were married at Poole register office in September 2015. Armed officers broke down the front door of their three-bedroom home on Tuescottages day. 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 25 miles from the murder scene, near Blandford.
Mr Connolly also appealed for more information from anyone who saw suspicious activity in West Howe or Winterborne Stickland around 3am on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a classical singer who performed at Mr Hedger and Mr Hedger-Cooper’s civil partnership ceremony 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, though you would never know because he was so welcoming, friendly and modest.’
‘The nicest, most unassuming man’