John Lowe, 82, has been sentenced to at least 25 years in jail after shooting partner Christine Lee, 66,and her daughter Lucy
Puppy farmer John Lowe has been jailed for at least 25 years today after murdering his 66-year-old partner her daughter.
The 82-year-old was was found guilty earlier this week of murdering Christine Lee, 66, and her daughter Lucy, 40, at his sprawling farmhouse in Surrey.
Speaking outside Guildford Crown Court following the verdicts, Christine's daughter Stacy Banner hit out at Surrey Police for returning weapons to the pensioner despite her repeated warnings.
"The shotgun was one of seven that had been returned to him by the police only months before he used it to kill," she said. "He held a shotgun licence despite the police being repeatedly warned by me and others about the danger he posed to society, allowing him to kill and kill again.
"John Lowe pulled the trigger but it was Surrey Police who 'put the gun in his hands.' They should not be allowed to escape their responsibility for their deaths," she said.
Lowe shot his Christine before shooting her daughter Lucy in the head and chest.
The pensioner had denied both murders but a jury at Guildford Crown Court today found him guilty of both.
The pair were found dead, along with four dogs at Keepers Cottage Stud, Tilford, Surrey on February 23.
The jury was told how police officers found "a scene of carnage" with a guard dog lying died at the front of the house.
LISTEN TO HARROWING 999 CALL MADE BY VICTIM MOMENTS BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED
Lucy was found on steps at the back of the house with her mother in the living room.
Christine was shot in the chest from around one foot away while her daughter was shot in the back of the head from nine-ten feet away and again in the chest from around one foot.
Speaking after the verdicts, Surrey Police apologised to the family of Christine and Lucy after Lowe's shotguns were returned to him following their confiscation.
The force said two reports indicated the decision was "flawed" and vowed to "co-operate fully" with an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.
A spokesman said: "A year before this incident, in March 2013, Surrey Police seized a shotgun licence and a number of shotguns belonging to Lowe. In July 2013 they were returned following an assessment by firearms licensing officers.
"After his arrest, Surrey Police immediately referred this previous contact to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). They determined the force should conduct a supervised investigation into our decision to return the weapons.
"We commissioned two independent reports by firearms licensing experts from Hampshire Constabulary and North Yorkshire Police. The initial findings from both reports indicate the decision was flawed and did not meet national standards.
"Whilst the full investigation into this matter remains ongoing, in light of these early findings we have spoken with members of Christine and Lucy Lee's family to apologise for this.
"Three Surrey Police employees remain subject to a gross misconduct investigation and, as a result of the two independent reports, the IPCC have re-determined that, going forward, this will now be an independent investigation led by them. We continue to co-operate fully with their investigation."
The jury was played audio footage of the harrowing moment Lucy called 999 to say her mum had been shot dead - moments before she was killed herself.
A frantic Lucy Lee called 999 to say her mum Christine had been shot dead by the puppy farmer.
She begins the call by shouting: "My mother has just been shot" before saying: "I am running for my life."
The 40-year-old then bravely tells the operator she is going to 'go back for him' despite saying she was worried he would shoot her.
Her final words to the operator before she was shot dead where: "I don't know if I'm going to be alive if I go back in there. He shot my mum. Bye".
Moments later, the 82-year-old killed his partner's daughter by shooting her in the head and chest.
Audio footage of the 999 call was played to the jury at the start of the trial, with friends and relatives of the pair weeping as they heard the frantic call.
Mrs Banner said today: "Lucy's last words to emergency services before she went back into the house to help my mum were: 'I don't know if I'm going to be alive if I go back in there. He shot my mum. Bye.'
"The courage of her final words inspire me. She was so brave. I am trying hard to draw on her strength and live up to her high standard as I move forward with my life but it is hard.
"My life stopped when their lives ended on February 23 this year. It will never be the same for me or my children who have lost their aunt and Nanny Burgerking.
"I would like to thank my friends and husband for the support they have given me over the last eight months. It has meant so much, thank you."
She said she hoped to see the gun laws changed in the future, so that it was not left entirely to police and there were vigorous multi-agency assessments.
Prosecutors told the trial that Mr Lowe put forward two prepared statements with the essence of his account was he had been under increasing stress because of the way Christine and Lucy treated him and claimed the shootings were accidental, citing a loose safety catch on the shotgun.
"If that cow hadn't gone all mental at me, I wouldn't have gone and pulled the trigger. I didn't mean to pull it," Mr Lowe said at Guildford police station after his arrest.
In interview he said he tried to shoot himself.
However the prosecutor poured scorn on that account, saying: "He does not assist Christine Lee or go to her aid or summon help after that shot as she lay bleeding on the floor. He just walks away. Hardly the signs of an accidental shooting."
