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| Care home shooting victim had dementia, says former neighbour | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An 81-year-old woman who was shot dead at a care home on Monday had dementia, according to a former neighbour. | An 81-year-old woman who was shot dead at a care home on Monday had dementia, according to a former neighbour. |
| Police investigating the death of Rita King, who was killed at De La Mer House in the Essex seaside town of Walton-on-the-Naze, were continuing to question a man, believed to be her 86-year-old husband, Ronald. | |
| Officers said on Tuesday that a postmortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. They said the bullet came from what was believed to be a 1934 Enfield revolver recovered at the scene. | |
| The Kings’ former neighbour Stella Bone, 78, painted a picture of a very close couple who were both struggling with increasing frailties and ill health. | The Kings’ former neighbour Stella Bone, 78, painted a picture of a very close couple who were both struggling with increasing frailties and ill health. |
| She said: “They seemed like a nice couple, but they went down in health. I remember once that he fell down and his wife was waving from the the window. I went across and got an ambulance for him. | She said: “They seemed like a nice couple, but they went down in health. I remember once that he fell down and his wife was waving from the the window. I went across and got an ambulance for him. |
| “I left my name and address, but I could see from what she was saying to me that she was suffering from some form of dementia then. They both did suffer from illnesses. Poor chap, he could hardly walk himself in the end and they were getting taxis to go to the shops or getting deliveries made.” | “I left my name and address, but I could see from what she was saying to me that she was suffering from some form of dementia then. They both did suffer from illnesses. Poor chap, he could hardly walk himself in the end and they were getting taxis to go to the shops or getting deliveries made.” |
| Bone added: “Dementia is a very hard thing. I worked in a home for 10 years. Anyone that does not sympathise with anyone who copes with the effects dementia has not yet experienced it in life themselves.” | Bone added: “Dementia is a very hard thing. I worked in a home for 10 years. Anyone that does not sympathise with anyone who copes with the effects dementia has not yet experienced it in life themselves.” |
| Julie Curtis, the manager of the care home, has said the gunman mumbled “she has had enough” before pulling the trigger. | Julie Curtis, the manager of the care home, has said the gunman mumbled “she has had enough” before pulling the trigger. |
| The Kings, who used to live in Ilford, north-east London, moved to Walton-on-the Naze in recent years. After living in a bungalow in the town, Rita King then moved into the care home about six months ago, according to reports. Her husband is said to have checked himself in for a week over Christmas. | The Kings, who used to live in Ilford, north-east London, moved to Walton-on-the Naze in recent years. After living in a bungalow in the town, Rita King then moved into the care home about six months ago, according to reports. Her husband is said to have checked himself in for a week over Christmas. |
| Douglas Carswell, the Ukip MP for Clacton, whose constituency includes Walton-on-the Naze, said it was important not to jump to conclusions. “Clearly when we have got the full detail we can take a more measured and considered view. The key sentiment is shock. It is a shocking thing to happen,” he said. | |
| “I have visited the care home a number of times and it is a very warm, loving, caring place, and I know that in recent years there was a lot of investment. They built a whole new section and they have got some very good, dedicated staff there. | “I have visited the care home a number of times and it is a very warm, loving, caring place, and I know that in recent years there was a lot of investment. They built a whole new section and they have got some very good, dedicated staff there. |
| “I know that on a number of occasions I have people who wanted to get people into the home and there has never been anyone who has come along and tried to get their loved ones out. By all accounts it’s a great place.” | “I know that on a number of occasions I have people who wanted to get people into the home and there has never been anyone who has come along and tried to get their loved ones out. By all accounts it’s a great place.” |