A SHOOTING club was not aware that a police inspector who killed his mother-in-law and then turned the gun on himself had taken it from their premises. Police have confirmed that Broomhills Shooting Club in Markyate from which Gary Weddell took the Baikal

A SHOOTING club was not aware that a police inspector who killed his mother-in-law and then turned the gun on himself had taken it from their premises.

Police have confirmed that Broomhills Shooting Club in Markyate from which Gary Weddell took the Baikal shotgun he used to kill Traute Maxfield and later himself had not been aware of the theft.

But the club has since voluntarily surrendered its certificate to police for additional conditions to be attached to beef up security.

Weddell was awaiting trial charged with the murder of his wife Sandra when he killed Mrs Maxfield at her home in Gustard Wood on January 12. He then took his own life, in the grounds of Broomhills where he had been taking secret clay pigeon shooting lessons.

His body was found there at 11.45am that day and more than five hours later police found the body of Mrs Maxfield in her hallway with shotgun wounds to her leg and neck.

Det Supt Andy Shrives said that investigations had revealed the gun was owned by Broomhills but the club was unable to say when it had been stolen from the store. Broomhills carried out monthly audits and the last one prior to the deaths was on December 15.

An investigation was subsequently undertaken at Broomhills to ensure the site was safe for use and as a result of the review, the club worked with police and had implemented stringent security measures.

Broomhills had voluntarily surrendered their certificate in order for new and more robust security conditions to be added to it but had continued to operate as a shooting club throughout that period, a police spokesperson confirmed.