Solicitor killed at Suffolk farmhouse died after being shot in chest

A solicitor whose husband has been charged with her murder died of a gunshot wound to the chest, an inquest heard.

Silke Hartshorne-Jones, 42, was shot at the farmhouse where she lived with her husband Peter Hartshorne-Jones in the village of Barham in Suffolk, Friday's hearing in Ipswich was told.

She sustained two gunshot wounds.

Mr Hartshorne-Jones, 51, has been charged with her murder and is remanded in custody ahead of a trial which is set for October 26 at Ipswich Crown Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Miller, of Suffolk Police, gave evidence to the inquest from a report prepared by senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Karl Nightingale.

She said police were called to the farmhouse in Barham at around 4.45am on Sunday, 3 May.

"Mr Hartshorne-Jones was arrested initially for attempted murder whilst officers and paramedics sought to save Mrs Hartshorne-Jones's life," DCI Miller said.

"Mrs Hartshorne-Jones was conveyed to Ipswich Hospital where she subsequently died.

"Mr Hartshorne-Jones was then arrested for murder."

A post-mortem examination recorded Mrs Hartshorne-Jones's medical cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest, DCI Miller said, adding: "Mrs Hartshorne-Jones had two gunshot wounds."

The hearing was told that Mrs Hartshorne-Jones was born in Heidelberg in south-western Germany and her family name before she married was Lutschewitz.

Nigel Parsley, Suffolk's senior coroner, said: "In relation to the tragic case of Silke Hartshorne-Jones I will open an inquest into her death and that inquest will be suspended pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings."