Pensioner lured love rival to allotment and shot him
Nicola Woolcock
Men lived at same sheltered housing
Both had dated complex's warden
A pensioner is to be jailed for shooting a love rival at his allotment after the pair became involved with the warden of their sheltered housing complex.
Reuben Bettis, 68, became depressed after Irene Williams left him for Derek Hamersley, a court was told yesterday.
The retired game beater borrowed a shotgun from a friend, saying that he wanted to shoot rabbits at his allotment in Orsett, Essex. He asked Mr Hamersley, 67, to visit the allotment for a meeting to “clear-the-air”, but opened fire on him.
The victim, a retired dock worker, needed surgery after being shot in the stomach. Doctors had also considered amputating his left hand.
At Basildon Crown Court Bettis, known as Lou, admitted attempted murder and possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life last April. Judge Philip Clegg adjourned sentencing for reports, but said that Bettis would go to jail.
The men had fallen for Mrs Williams, 60, the warden at their accommodation block in Tilbury, Essex. She had been in a relationship with Bettis, which began in late 2005 but it had ended early last year when she jilted him for Mr Hamersley.
Andrew Jackson, for the prosecution, said: “It became plain that he was somewhat depressed at the end of this relationship. Bettis said that he wanted to meet Mr Hamersley for a clear-the-air meeting in order to make sure Mr Hamersley was going to look after Mrs Williams.”
Mr Jackson added that the two men met at Bettis’s allotment while Mrs Williams was shopping.
“Mr Hamersley walked towards the allotments. Bettis was standing by the greenhouse. Mr Hamersley called out ‘Do you want a word, Lou?’ “As Mr Hamersley got to within 9ft or 10ft [about 3m] of the defendant he fired. The cartridge went through Mr Hamersley’s left hand and the pellets scattered into Mr Hamersley’s stomach.
“The first on the scene were other allotment holders. They heard the shooting. They heard Mr Hamersley saying, ‘Help! help! the bastard’s shot me’. They watched [Bettis] turn and walk away.”
Bettis then drove to Mrs Williams’s bungalow and told her what he had done. He was arrested shortly after.
Police found Mr Hamersley bleeding heavily with the shotgun and a live cartridge dumped near by. He was taken to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for two hours to remove 40 shotgun pellets from his bowel and another 50 to 100 from his hand.
The shooting has left Mr Hamersley’s left hand severely impaired. He is unable to use the fingers, has undergone three operations to remove dead bone and insert metal pins, and needs further surgery.
Roy Brown, for the defence, said that his client denied trying to kill Mr Hamersley but was pleading guilty to avoid a trial. He said that medical evidence showed that Bettis was “in the throes of a major depressive illness” when he opened fire.
In a police interview, Bettis admitted the shooting but said that he had done it accidentally after Mr Hamersley had approached him aggressively. He told police: “If I wanted to injure that man I would have shot him again wouldn’t I? I didn’t even put the gun to my shoulder, it just went bang.”
The judge ordered reports on Bettis’s mental state and background but said that the incident was a “catastrophic lapse by a man in his 60s who had otherwise led a blameless life”.
Bettis was remanded in custody for sentencing on a date to be fixed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 45,00.html
