Pregnant mum shot in head in front of dying lover makes urgent plea (original) (raw)

Laura Sugden was pregnant when their neighbour carried out a harrowing crossbow attack on her and partner Shane Gilmer at their home - she is calling on Labour to toughen the law

Laura Sugden survived the crossbow attack along with unborn daughter Ella

A mum whose partner was murdered in a crossbow attack which saw her left for dead has called on the new Government to finally crack down on the dangerous weapons.

Laura Sugden was pregnant when neighbour Anthony Lawrence carried out the harrowing attack after lying in wait for her and partner Shane Gilmer at their home. She pretended to be dead after being shot in the head, suffering life-changing wounds that will never heal.

Tragically medics were unable to save Shane, 30, who died after being shot twice with the crossbow. Laura, who survived along with unborn daughter Ella, has called on Labour to bring in tough new legislation after years of Government inaction.

Ministers are exploring ways of restricting the weapons after hundreds responded to a Home Office consultation demanding a crackdown. Campaigners hope that new licences on use, ownership and sales of crossbows - similar to those required for shotguns - can be included in the Government's Crime and Policing Bill.

Medics were unable to save Shane Gilmer (

Image:

PA)

Laura, pictured with Shane, was pregnant when their neighbour carried out the harrowing attack (

Image:

Selby Times / SWNS.com)

This is set to be put before MPs in the coming months. One Tory MP said he will table an amendment for new crossbow laws if the Bill doesn't include them. Laura told the Mirror: "You can't just go on Amazon and buy a shotgun, so why on earth can you buy a crossbow?"

She continued: "They are so lethal. Only a couple of days ago I re-read through Shane's postmortem. What it did to his body was unbelievable. And I'm just five weeks out of surgery having a bolt removed from my head.

**"**I don't want to read any more about people being shot by crossbows. And I feel like this is the last thing I can do for him. I don't want to read about any more cases like this."

Demands for action have again been put in sharp focus following the killings of Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July. Carol, 61, and daughters Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, died from their injuries after being attacked in their home.

Laura, who survived along with unborn daughter Ella, survived being shot in the head (

Image:

Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

A postmortem found Hannah and Louise died from crossbow bolt injuries, while their mother was stabbed. Hannah's former partner Kyle Clifford, who suffered serious self-inflicted injuries, was arrested on suspicion of their murder.

Earlier this year the Tory Government launched a consultation after Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, was convicted of breaking into Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and threatening to kill the Queen. Almost 3,000 people responded to the Home Office's call for evidence between February and April. The majority of those who did so demanded tougher controls.

Humberside Police released an image of a crossbow after the brutal attack

Laura, 33, said: "It's coming up to Shane's birthday next week, so the lead up to that is always a horrible time. And Ella's going into another school year and he's not present for it, it affects my life every day mentally.

"I'm on medication every day for my head injury and that's for the rest of my life. But I would rather have the pain than go through what I do mentally. It's crazy to think that it's taken all this time for them to even start considering this should be legislated on."

Tory MP Sir John Hayes told The Mirror that regulations are desperately needed. He called for it to be included in Labour's crime Bill - and pledged to put forward an amendment if it is not.

"They're deadly, they're silent and they're too easily bought," he said of crossbows. "There's a fear that they're becoming the weapon of choice. I'm calling on the Government to do something similar to what they're doing with Zombie knives. If I get an opportunity I'll move an amendment (calling for legal restrictions on crossbows)."

Gemma Vine, of Ison Harrison Solicitors, which has supported Laura's call for the law to be changed, said: "There's no good reason for there not to be restrictions. We accept that there can be some legitmate reasons they can be use in terms of sport and historical re-enactments, but there can and should be a licence."

Killer Lawrence smashed through the loft space between his home and Laura and Shane's house. He waited for them to return from a date night, blaming them for getting him evicted by reporting his drug use. He was later found dead in a motorhome. Under current law under 18s can't own crossbows and they can't be wielded in public or used for hunting.

But there are no licences or registrations needed to purchase the weapons - which are meant for use at archery target ranges. This means police have no idea how many are in circulation across the UK.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are currently reviewing the evidence to consider whether the existing controls on crossbows should be strengthened to prevent abuse of these weapons.”