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Farnham shooting: Police returned seized guns | Farnham shooting: Police returned seized guns |
(35 minutes later) | |
Guns seized from a house near Farnham where two women were later shot dead had been returned to their owner, Surrey Police has revealed. | |
Christine Lee, 66, and Lucy Lee, 40, who are thought to be mother and daughter, were killed at Keepers Cottage Stud in Waverley Lane. | |
Christine's body was found inside, while Lucy was found dead outside. | |
An 82-year-old dog breeder, named locally as John Lowe, was arrested on Sunday and is in custody. | |
Post-mortem examinations gave the cause of death as gunshot wounds. | |
Police seized the guns and a shotgun licence from the address last May and returned them, along with the permit, in July. | Police seized the guns and a shotgun licence from the address last May and returned them, along with the permit, in July. |
Ch Insp Mark Preston, from Surrey Police, said one long-barrelled weapon was found at the house after the shootings. | Ch Insp Mark Preston, from Surrey Police, said one long-barrelled weapon was found at the house after the shootings. |
It is not known if this gun was one of those which had been returned. | |
Four dogs killed | |
In a statement, the force said: "We are in the process of establishing if one of these licensed guns was the firearm recovered on Sunday. | In a statement, the force said: "We are in the process of establishing if one of these licensed guns was the firearm recovered on Sunday. |
"Surrey Police is reviewing the return of the licence to ensure compliance with Home Office guidelines and has referred this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission." | "Surrey Police is reviewing the return of the licence to ensure compliance with Home Office guidelines and has referred this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission." |
Ch Insp Preston confirmed police had dealings with the arrested man in the past. | |
He added that he did not believe there were any active investigations in relation to the suspect at the time of the shootings. | He added that he did not believe there were any active investigations in relation to the suspect at the time of the shootings. |
Four dogs were also killed at the property. | Four dogs were also killed at the property. |
Stacy Banner, 38, who The Sun reported is the sister and daughter of the dead women and Mr Lowe's stepdaughter, said: "I have lost everyone - my mum, sister and dad." | |
"This is a nightmare. I just can't get my head around what's happened. My family's gone and I'm absolutely devastated." | |
Surrey Police said on Monday that the two victims were not related to the arrested man, but both of them knew him, though neither lived at the property. | |
A spokeswoman said they were trying to clarify the newspaper report with regard to the interview with Ms Banner. | A spokeswoman said they were trying to clarify the newspaper report with regard to the interview with Ms Banner. |
'Animals removed' | |
The RSPCA has confirmed it and other agencies had made a number of visits to the property over the past few years. | |
A spokesman for the charity said its officers had already removed one cat and 10 dogs, including a number of puppies from the property. | |
He said these included Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, shih tzus and an Old English sheepdog-type. | |
"Today, we will be removing a small number of exotic birds from the property," he added. | |
"At present our staff are caring for a large number of chickens at the property and we have brought in our specialist equine workers to ensure the health and welfare of four horses. | |
"We are currently working with other agencies to make arrangements for their long-term care." | |
On Monday evening, magistrates gave police a further 24 hours to continue questioning the suspect. | On Monday evening, magistrates gave police a further 24 hours to continue questioning the suspect. |
Ch Insp Preston said no-one else was at the secluded property at the time of the shooting, which is surrounded by dense woodland and has a quarter-of-a-mile driveway lined with signs indicating CCTV cameras are in operation. | |
He said the arrested man was uninjured and remained calm when officers went to the house. | |
The property, which includes kennels and a stable, are owned by Mr Lowe. | |
In 2004, Mr Lowe was investigated by the BBC's Inside Out programme, which claimed he was breeding scores of dogs and selling puppies in poor condition. | In 2004, Mr Lowe was investigated by the BBC's Inside Out programme, which claimed he was breeding scores of dogs and selling puppies in poor condition. |