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19/12/2008
Mansion Family Fire Funeral Held
The funeral of a millionaire and the wife and teenage daughter he is believed to have killed is due to take place today.
Businessman Christopher Foster, 50, is believed to have shot dead his wife Jill, 49, and 15-year-old daughter Kirstie, before setting fire to their mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire, in August.
CCTV footage recovered from the house showed a man, believed to be the 50-year-old, carrying a gun around the property, setting the family's stables on fire before driving a horsebox down the driveway and shooting at its tyres.
Police believe Foster, who ran a pipe insulation firm called Ulva Ltd - which went into administration last year - also killed the family animals, including their horses and dogs.
The mother and daughter’s funeral is due to be held at 11.00am at St John's Church, Maesbrook, while the father’s is expected to be held at 2.30pm at the same church.
The deceased family had decided to bury all three on the same day in adjoining plots, the Diocese of Lichfield said.
"We hope the funerals will provide a dignified opportunity for the families and friends to pay their final respects," a Diocese spokesman said.
However, the process of arranging the funerals is understood to have sparked a feud between Mr Foster's family and relatives of his wife, Jill.
On Sunday Mrs Foster's sister, Anne Giddings, said she wanted Mr Foster to be buried "as far away as possible" from her sister and niece.
She said: "I'm gutted to think that beast will be buried in the same cemetery as my sister and her beautiful daughter. He will be lying right next to them, just a few feet away."
An inquest into the family's deaths has been opened and adjourned, and police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
See: Fire Ravaged Mansion Echoes Another Tragedy
(JM)
Businessman Christopher Foster, 50, is believed to have shot dead his wife Jill, 49, and 15-year-old daughter Kirstie, before setting fire to their mansion in Maesbrook, Shropshire, in August.
CCTV footage recovered from the house showed a man, believed to be the 50-year-old, carrying a gun around the property, setting the family's stables on fire before driving a horsebox down the driveway and shooting at its tyres.
Police believe Foster, who ran a pipe insulation firm called Ulva Ltd - which went into administration last year - also killed the family animals, including their horses and dogs.
The mother and daughter’s funeral is due to be held at 11.00am at St John's Church, Maesbrook, while the father’s is expected to be held at 2.30pm at the same church.
The deceased family had decided to bury all three on the same day in adjoining plots, the Diocese of Lichfield said.
"We hope the funerals will provide a dignified opportunity for the families and friends to pay their final respects," a Diocese spokesman said.
However, the process of arranging the funerals is understood to have sparked a feud between Mr Foster's family and relatives of his wife, Jill.
On Sunday Mrs Foster's sister, Anne Giddings, said she wanted Mr Foster to be buried "as far away as possible" from her sister and niece.
She said: "I'm gutted to think that beast will be buried in the same cemetery as my sister and her beautiful daughter. He will be lying right next to them, just a few feet away."
An inquest into the family's deaths has been opened and adjourned, and police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
See: Fire Ravaged Mansion Echoes Another Tragedy
(JM)
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25 September 2008
Shropshire Mansion Fire Inquest To Begin
An inquest into the deaths of three members of the same family, whose bodies were found in a burnt-out Shropshire mansion, is to begin today. The bodies of Christopher Foster, 50, his wife Jill, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, were found at Osbaston House, Maesbrook on 2 September, following a suspected arson attack.
Shropshire Mansion Fire Inquest To Begin
An inquest into the deaths of three members of the same family, whose bodies were found in a burnt-out Shropshire mansion, is to begin today. The bodies of Christopher Foster, 50, his wife Jill, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, were found at Osbaston House, Maesbrook on 2 September, following a suspected arson attack.
29 May 2014
Thousands Expected To Attend Vigil For Stephen Sutton
Thousands of people are expected to attend a vigil for the late cancer fundraiser Stephen Sutton, who died aged 19 after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer aged 15. He raised more than £3m for charity. His mother, Jane Sutton said the service, which will be at the Lichfield Cathedral, would be a celebration of his life.
Thousands Expected To Attend Vigil For Stephen Sutton
Thousands of people are expected to attend a vigil for the late cancer fundraiser Stephen Sutton, who died aged 19 after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer aged 15. He raised more than £3m for charity. His mother, Jane Sutton said the service, which will be at the Lichfield Cathedral, would be a celebration of his life.
27 August 2008
Family Missing As Arson Probe Begins
West Mercia Police are searching for members of a Shropshire family who are this morning listed as 'missing' after a suspected arson attack on their home. Christopher Foster, his wife Jillian and teenage daughter Kirsty have not been seen since the blaze yesterday.
Family Missing As Arson Probe Begins
West Mercia Police are searching for members of a Shropshire family who are this morning listed as 'missing' after a suspected arson attack on their home. Christopher Foster, his wife Jillian and teenage daughter Kirsty have not been seen since the blaze yesterday.
02 November 2007
Tribute Paid To Selfless Strangers In Portuguese Beach Tragedy
The families of the tragic Britons who died while trying to save children from strong sea currents in Portugal said the kindness of strangers will "never be forgotten".
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16 July 2004
Jenkins wins right to face a retrial
Sion Jenkins, the man jailed six years ago for the murder of his teenage foster daughter, has won the right to a retrial. Mr Jenkins, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998 after being found guilty of the murder of 13-year-old Billie Jo Jenkins at the family home in Hastings, East Sussex.
Jenkins wins right to face a retrial
Sion Jenkins, the man jailed six years ago for the murder of his teenage foster daughter, has won the right to a retrial. Mr Jenkins, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998 after being found guilty of the murder of 13-year-old Billie Jo Jenkins at the family home in Hastings, East Sussex.
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