Dying man left messages for girlfriend and children, inquest told

A MAN who had been fatally wounded by a crossbow in a revenge attack by a neighbour left poignant messages of love for his pregnant girlfriend, their unborn baby and his own family.

A harrowing transcript of a 999 call made by Shane Gilmer to the emergency services on the evening of January 12, 2018 was read to a jury at an inquest in Hull.

Mr Gilmer, inset, said he “took ages” to get downstairs after being shot in his arm and abdomen by Anthony Lawrence, who lay in wait for the couple after sneaking into their house in Southburn, near Driffield, through a shared loftspace. Lawrence blamed the couple for having been served with an eviction notice.

Mr Gilmer, 30, was anxious about what had happened to his girlfriend, Laura Sugden, who was also attacked and wounded by Lawrence, fearing that he had abducted her.

He told the operator the bolt had penetrated some 10 inches into his body and he was “going to die”, begging them to “hurry up”.

The operator asked him if he could do anything to dress the wound, but Mr Gilmer said he could not move.

He said: “I’m in so much pain, there’s an arrow sticking out of my side. I can’t get it out. I need them to come and find my girlfriend. Oh God, I love her so much.”

He said he needed Ms Sugden “to know that I love her” – with the operator then reassuring him that it was “all in the notes for you”.

Mr Gilmer said Ms Sugden, who was around 20 weeks pregnant, was due to have a scan, and said: “I really wanted this baby. I really wanted it.”

His thoughts also turned to his two daughters from a previous relationship, telling the operator he needed to “say something”.

The operator said: “What do you need to say?” He replied: “I love my children.” He also said he loved his parents.

He said Lawrence was “really dangerous” and had been “p ***** off with us” after being given notice to vacate his home after the letting agency which managed both properties was made aware that cannabis fumes from his house were entering Ms Sugden’s daughter’s bedroom and exacerbating her asthma.

As the call continued Mr Gilmer said his pain was getting worse, “so much worse”, adding: “They are taking too long.”

The exchange ended just after 10pm as police arrived and told him that Ms Sugden was safe and at the neighbour’s house after managing to escape from Lawrence.

Despite attempts to save his life, he died at Hull Royal Infirmary in the early hours of January 13.

The inquest continues.