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Man aged 82 arrested in murder probe as two women's bodies found at puppy farm Man aged 82 arrested in murder probe as two women's bodies found at puppy farm
(about 4 hours later)
An 82-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the bodies of a mother and daughter were found at a puppy farm in Surrey. An 82-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman and her adult daughter were shot dead at a dog-breeding centre in rural Surrey.
Police were called to a house off Crooksbury Road in the village of Farnham on Sunday morning following reports that a firearm had been discharged at the property. Police said a 999 call was made from Keepers Cottage in Tilford, near Farnham, at about 10am on Sunday. No one other than the suspect and the two women, who lived nearby, are believed to have been on the property at the time.  Armed officers were on the scene within 20 minutes but attempts to resuscitate the women failed.
Officers found the bodies of a woman in her forties and a woman in her sixties. They have yet to be formally identified. Four pet dogs were found shot dead alongside the women's bodies. The suspect, named locally as John Lowe, was last night being questioned by officers.
According to the Evening Standard the arrested man has been named by neighbours today as John Lowe, a puppy breeder who ran his business from the his large country home named Keeper's Cottage Stud. Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. Four dogs, three German shepherds and Labrador, were also shot dead on the property, which includes several dilapidated out-houses and kennels and is set in six acres of woodland. The RSPCA said a “ significant number” of other animals, including dogs, cats and horses, had been found and were taken into care.
Mr Lowe was fined £2,000 in 2009 and banned from keeping dog-breeding premises for five years after he was found guilty of illegally breeding puppies at Keepers Cottage in 2009. The RSPCA today told Sky News that a number of animals had been removed from the property following the alleged shooting. Surrey Police said the case had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. They declined to give any further details.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston from Surrey Police said: "It is extremely sad that two people have lost their lives and police family liaison officers are working to support their relatives and friends at this very difficult time. Officers confirmed a long-barrelled firearm had been used during the crime and they were investigating the legality of the weapon.
"We are conducting a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding these two deaths, however, at this time, we believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further risk to the wider community. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston said: “It is extremely sad that two people have lost their lives and police family liaison officers are working to support their relatives and friends at this very difficult time.
"Officers remain at the scene conducting inquiries and will be on site for some time. This investigation is in its early stages and we will issue updates when we have them." “We are conducting a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding these two deaths, however, at this time, we believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further risk to the wider community.”
Post mortem examinations are due to take place later today on the two women. The body of the older woman, who was in her 60s, was found inside the cottage, while her daughter, who was in her 40s, was found dead near the kennels where animals were kept. DCI Preston said: “All the parties were known to each other. We are trying to establish a motive.”
The women have not yet been formally identified.
The cottage is about a quarter of a mile down a driveway accessed through stone gates. It leads through dense woods with signs warning that CCTV cameras are in operation 24 hours a day. Police were searching the area and also carrying out forensic tests.