6 Jun 2011

Police watchdog to investigate background to double murder

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation after it emerged a man suspected of shooting a mother and daughter was known to officers.

Police have confirmed they were aware of a “number of incidents” involving a woman and the man accused of shooting of her dead along with her young daughter.

Christine Chambers, 38, and Shania, aged two, were found dead at their home in Bartram Avenue, Braintree, Essex, early on Monday.

Ms Chambers’ other daughter, aged ten, was able to flee the scene and alert family members, who called police.

A 50-year-old man is under guard in hospital with shotgun injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening.

Mr Beautridge said: “All people in this incident are known to each other.

“There have been an number of incidents where contact between the man in custody and Chrissie Chambers have been referred to Essex Police over the course of the last two years.”

Mr Beautridge said Essex Police had referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and there will be a “full and fundamental review of the circumstances surrounding this contact in order to ensure there is total transparency”.

The man in hospital, who has not yet been named by police, is believed to be Shania’s father. He has not yet been arrested, Mr Beautridge said.

Police said they were not searching for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Mr Beautridge added: “I would like to pay credit to the daughter who left the premises, who I thought acted in an extremely brave manner in what must have been very, very difficult and traumatic circumstances for her.”

Firearms officers were called to the scene in the early hours of the morning, and officers found a shotgun at the scene.

You knew this was going to happen, you could have stopped it. Neighbour of Christine Chambers

There were dramatic scenes outside the house as a neighbour shouted at police: “You knew this was going to happen, you could have stopped it.”
The man was led away by officers.

Another neighbour, who declined to be named, said: “She had called the police before on several occasions and there had been a lot of problems in the past.

“Like everybody, she had her ups and downs and we knew there were problems. We knew she was worried about what might happen to her and it seemed she was living in fear.”