Husband shot wife 'to protect children from love rival'

Jennie Leeman was shot six days after her husband learned of her affair

A man who killed his wife after finding out she was unfaithful, threatened to kill her lover who he claimed was a paedophile, a court has heard.

David Leeman, of Higher Cowley Farm, Parracombe, shot his wife in September.

The 60-year-old denies murdering Jennie Leeman, 44, but admits manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control.

Mr Leeman said he wanted to protect his children from Norman Laramy, but Exeter Crown Court was told there was no evidence his claims were true.

Det Con James Rees, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said he was called to the farmhouse on the day before the shooting where Mr Leeman and his eldest son made claims about 40-year-old Mr Laramy.

But the police officer said a search on Mr Laramy uncovered no evidence of any sexual offending.

Mrs Leeman was shot five times at close range with a prohibited semi-automatic pistol which her estranged husband had kept hidden for years in a secret compartment at the farm near Barnstaple in north Devon.

Geoffrey Mercer QC, prosecuting, has rejected Mr Leeman's claim that he "lost control", claiming he was guilty of murder.

A ballistics expert told the court the shots that killed Mrs Leeman were fired at almost point blank range and the jury was shown a video of a Devon and Cornwall Police armourer performing a series of different actions before the French-made semi-automatic pistol could be fired.

The court was also told by witness Liam Chugg that days before the shooting Mr Leeman threatened to have Mr Laramy killed, claiming it could be "sorted" with one phone call.

Mr Chugg's claims have been rejected by the defence.

Mrs Leeman was returning the youngest of the couple's four children after a day out on 18 September when she was killed.

Mr Laramy, who was waiting outside the barn, said he fled in terror and hid after being threatened with the gun by Leeman who said: "It should have been you first."

The trial continues.