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Mansion fire man's money worries Mansion fire man's money worries
(19 minutes later)
A businessman thought to have killed his wife and daughter before torching their mansion was in "severe financial difficulty", an inquest has heard.A businessman thought to have killed his wife and daughter before torching their mansion was in "severe financial difficulty", an inquest has heard.
Christopher Foster's thermal insulation firm Ulva Ltd went into liquidation in October 2007.Christopher Foster's thermal insulation firm Ulva Ltd went into liquidation in October 2007.
Police believe he killed Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15 before burning their £1.2m home in Maesbrook, Shropshire.Police believe he killed Jill, 49, and Kirstie, 15 before burning their £1.2m home in Maesbrook, Shropshire.
A Home Office pathologist said Mr Foster probably died as a result of smoke inhalation in last August's fire.A Home Office pathologist said Mr Foster probably died as a result of smoke inhalation in last August's fire.
Police opened a murder inquiry after tests showed Mrs Foster had been shot in the head. Police opened a murder inquiry after tests showed Mrs Foster had been shot in the back of the head.
'No evidence''No evidence'
A gun owned by Mr Foster and spent and unspent cartridges were found scattered around the grounds of Osbaston House. A gun owned by Mr Foster and spent and unspent cartridges were found scattered around the kitchen, driveway and 16-acre grounds of Osbaston House.
But Dr Alexander Kolar told the hearing at Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court there was "no evidence" that Mr Foster died of a gunshot wound although he added he could not rule this out. Firearms expert Dr Phillip Rydeard told the inquest that pieces of lead and bullets found in Mrs Foster's skull and those of her daughter Kirstie "were consistent with having originated from" a German made .22 bolt action rifle, which had been fitted with a silencer.
Pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar told the hearing at Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court there was "no evidence" that Mr Foster had died of a gunshot wound.
The £1.2m mansion was destroyed in the fireThe £1.2m mansion was destroyed in the fire
He said Mr Foster would have been alive during the fire but probably died in "tens of minutes" from breathing in smoke.He said Mr Foster would have been alive during the fire but probably died in "tens of minutes" from breathing in smoke.
His body was found lying on top of his wife in a room below their bedroom.
Stephen Langton, representing Mr Foster's brother Andrew and mother Enid, said the family believed there had been kidnap threats made against Kirstie Foster.Stephen Langton, representing Mr Foster's brother Andrew and mother Enid, said the family believed there had been kidnap threats made against Kirstie Foster.
He said a lorry driver had also witnessed three men "loitering at the property" on the morning of the fire. He said Peter Day, a lorry driver from a nearby animal feed company, saw three men "loitering at the property" on the morning of the fire.
While cross-examining Det Con Paul Rogers, of West Mercia Police, he asked him whether police were aware of the kidnap allegations and the witness. Mr Day asked a colleague to raise the alarm after spotting an "orange glow" from the road leading to the five-bedroom house and firefighters were called at 0430 BST on 26 August and quickly alerted police.
Mr Rogers said officers had no witness statement to such effect and had only learned of the claims on Wednesday evening but said the force would investigate. Under cross-examination Det Con Paul Rogers of West Mercia Police was asked whether police were aware of the kidnap allegations and the witness.
Mr Rogers said officers had no witness statements to such effect and had only learned of the claims on Wednesday evening but said the force would investigate.
Heating oilHeating oil
The two-day hearing was also told the ruined millionaire had told police in December 2005 his ex-accountant was blackmailing him over a joint property deal in Cyprus.The two-day hearing was also told the ruined millionaire had told police in December 2005 his ex-accountant was blackmailing him over a joint property deal in Cyprus.
Two defendants were prosecuted and found not guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court in November 2006.Two defendants were prosecuted and found not guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court in November 2006.
The inquest has also been shown photographs of the five-bedroom house before and after the blaze. The inquest was shown photographs of the property, which was surveilled by three CCTV cameras, before and after the blaze.
Photos of the property's dining room showed containers of heating oil on the floor. Photos of the property's dining room also displayed containers of heating oil on the floor.
The hearing was told an oil tank used to heat the property was situated in the outbuildings of the house and would have been full at the time of the fire.The hearing was told an oil tank used to heat the property was situated in the outbuildings of the house and would have been full at the time of the fire.