A DOG breeder has been found guilty of shooting dead his partner and her daughter at a farm in Tilford.
John Leo Lowe, 82, was convicted today (Wednesday) of two counts of murder following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.
Officers were called to reports of a gun being fired at his farm in Waverley Lane on the morning of February 23 and found the bodies of 66-year-old Christine Lee and her 41-year-old daughter Lucy Lee. Both died from gunshot wounds.
Three German Shepherds and a Mastiff were also found dead.
A firearm was discovered at Keepers Cottage farm, where Lowe ran a dog and horse breeding business.
It has also emerged today Surrey Police seized and then returned a number of shotguns to Lowe, just months before the incident.
The two women had been helping him with the animals and had become dominant figures in his life.
But the relationship soured and there were arguments over money and how the women were taking care of Lowe and his animals.
Giving evidence during the trial, Lowe claimed he never intended to kill Christine or Lucy but fired the gun accidentally at first one and then the other.
This version of events was strongly refuted by the prosecution, who argued Lowe knew exactly what he was doing and the deliberate firing of a shotgun at his unarmed and defenceless victims could not be done without the intention either to kill or to cause serious harm.
The jury were played a 999 emergency call from Lucy Lee in which she stated her mother had been shot by Lowe and she was afraid she would also be shot if she returned to the house.
Lowe will be sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Friday.
Julia James, Christine's sister said today: "John Lowe will never pay for taking the innocent lives of my sister Christine and my niece Lucy Lee. Christine was mother, auntie and grandmother and was much loved.
"Christine and Lucy put the needs of others first, my sister had a heart of gold and was full of life. Lucy believed in protecting life and being kind to others.
"I witnessed on numerous occasions how caring Christine and Lucy had been towards Lowe. It has been heart-breaking listening to his lies.
"We thank the police and everyone involved in this case for their help."
