Burglars shoot dead businessman, 61, in his £1m village home
A MURDER hunt was under way last night after a businessman was shot dead by burglars inside his £1million home.
Guy Hedger, 61, was attacked after disturbing intruders at his luxury property in St Ives, Dorset.
He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries.
Murder squad detectives said that the gunman, who had at least one accomplice, fled following the break-in early yesterday. Both remained on the run last night.
Police also confirmed that another occupant, believed to be one of the victim’s relatives, witnessed the shooting and has been left ‘deeply affected’.
They are being cared for by specialist officers. Police said the homeowner disturbed the burglars who had broken into his upmarket cul-de-sac home on the outskirts of the New Forest at around 3am. They said he was entirely innocent and did not know his attackers.
Soon afterwards residents heard a police helicopter overhead for more than an hour, but the gunman evaded arrest. Last night the street, which boasts five and six-bedroomed properties, remained cordoned off.
There was a heavy police presence in surrounding roads as forensic officers combed the area for clues. A Home Office post-mortem is also due to take place and the coroner has been informed.
Superintendent Kevin Connolly, from Dorset Police, said he was treating the incident as an ‘aggravated burglary’ and appealed for anyone with information to contact officers. ‘ At 3am we were called to a residential premises in Castlewood which is a cul-de-sac in St Ives,’ he said.
‘We discovered a male in his 60s had been shot and was taken to hospital but tragically died. We have since launched a murder enquiry and are trying to reach anybody with any information to come forward to help us.
‘We are treating this as an aggravated burglary which resulted in the shooting of an innocent man and there were at least two intruders. The offenders we believe went in to steal and then subsequently shot an innocent man.’
He added: ‘There was somebody else present at the time. They have been deeply affected by the circumstances and are being supported by a family liaison officer. I appeal to anybody with any information to come forward or if you were in the area at any time of the morning.’
Police are working with firearms specialists to determine exactly what kind of gun was used in the raid. Mr Connolly said: ‘Upon the conclusion of their evaluation we’ll know a lot more detail. There’s no reason [for residents] to be concerned.
‘We are treating this as an isolated incident and will do our very best to catch the offenders and bring them to justice. We are conducting reassurance patrols to ensure people feel safe.’
But residents spoke of their shock that a man had been killed in their usually quiet community.
Neighbour Jean Yeates, 83, said: ‘ It’s frightening to think that something like this could happen. I’ve never heard of anything happening here and I’ve lived here a fair while.’
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It’s a bit of a shock.’ And another added: ‘It is horrible to hear what happened.’
‘Frightening that this could happen here’