Wife leaving husband before shooting, inquest told

Lisa Smith was fatally shot outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

A woman who was shot dead by her husband outside a pub on Valentine's Day was trying to leave the relationship, an inquest has heard.

Edward Smith shot his wife, Lisa Smith, in the car park of the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent, on 14 February.

His body was later found in the River Thames after he was believed to have entered the water near the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Dartford.

An inquest into their deaths heard that Mr Smith shot Ms Smith three times before fleeing in a car.

She was hit twice in the neck and once in the chest, Kent Police told the inquest.

Ms Smith, 43, from Slough, died at the scene despite an off-duty firefighter at the pub performing CPR.

Det Sgt James Dolby told the inquest that Ms Smith had informed her sister on the day of the shooting that she was leaving Mr Smith.

Edward Smith is suspected of shooting his wife, Lisa Smith, before jumping off a bridge

The inquest heard that Mr Smith had been looking for Ms Smith and calling her repeatedly.

After Mr Smith arrived at the pub and began shouting for her, Ms Smith exited the pub and sat in her friend's car. Mr Smith then began to leave, but seconds later reversed and blocked the pub car park exit with his car, the inquest was told.

He then fired four shots at Ms Smith from close range during the incident, which lasted less than two minutes, the inquest heard.

'Don't need to do this'

Following the shooting, Mr Smith went into a fish and chip shop and pulled out his gun to demand a knife on his journey to the bridge, Det Sgt Dolby told the inquest.

In a voice note sent to a relative at about 20:30 BST on 14 February, Mr Smith said: "We have had a bit of tragedy today. I have just shot my wife, Lisa.

"If you can please pray for my family because things aren't looking good."

The inquest was told he also called somebody who told him, "you don't need to do this, god is not ready to take you, it will all be fine".

A handgun, live ammunition, knife and mobile phone were found in the vehicle.

At the inquest, coroner Katrina Hepburn said Ms Smith was "killed unlawfully".