Essex care home shooting: Husband, 86, arrested after wife shot dead

Essex police have launched a murder enquiry and a man has been arrested

Police arrested a male resident of De la Mer House in Walton on suspicion of murder (PA)

A care home resident was arrested on suspicion of murder today after a woman in her eighties was shot dead at the same address.

The victim, named by police as Mrs Rita King, aged 81, was declared dead at the scene at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, near Clacton, Essex. An 86-year-old man, understood to be her husband Ronald, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

The arrested man had been temporarily staying at the home over Christmas. Mrs King was also a resident.

After the shooting the man reportedly said: “She has had enough,” staff at the home said last night.

The shooting, believed to have taken place in a communal area of the property, occurred shortly after breakfast. Police confirmed they had found a revolver at the scene. Staff took the gun from the man before police arrived.

Julie Curtis, the manager of the home, said: “I put my left arm around him and put his right arm between him and the gun and said ‘please, please give me the gun’, and he let go.”

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, who is leading the investigation, said: “At this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation and our inquiries are ongoing.”

The premises were placed under guard while forensic searches were conducted by Essex Police

The force said that the next of kin of both the victim and the suspect had been informed.

John Knights, who lives near the care home, said security was tight at the property. The retired financial adviser, whose wife Marlene runs a guest house a short distance from the property, said: “My mother had to go into De La Mer about two years ago, and I can tell you that it was quite tricky to get in and out of there.

“Security was tight. You couldn’t just go up to the building and get in. You needed a security code to get in. It had electronic key pads on the door, so to get inside you needed to know those.”

Douglas Carswell, the Ukip MP for the area, said he was “very shocked”. He added: “If you have got a loved one in a care home, you expect them to be safe. Walton-on-the-Naze is supposed to be one of the most peaceful and tranquil places there is. Of all the places you expect this to happen, this is the last.”

Mr Carswell said he knew the residential home well and it had recently been renovated. “I have been several times,” he added. “I know the staff are very good people.”

A Care Quality Commission report into the 55-bed home last year found that “people were cared for in an environment that was safe, clean and hygienic. The appropriate recruitment checks had been completed prior to staff being employed”.

The home is owned by Dr Krishnan Malhotra and his wife, Shalini.

Mrs Malhotra is the eldest daughter of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the current Prime Minister of Mauritius.