A woman who was fatally shot by her husband outside a pub on Valentine’s Day was trying to end the relationship, as revealed in an inquest. Lisa Smith, aged 43, was shot twice in the neck in the car park of The Three Horseshoes in Knockholt, Kent, on February 14. Edward Smith had located her that evening, blocked her car, and fired four shots with a handgun, according to the Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court.
Earlier that day, Lisa had informed her sister of her intention to leave her husband and had traveled from their home in Slough, Berkshire, to stay with family in Kent. The Area Coroner, Katrina Hepburn, concluded that Lisa died due to unlawful killing and determined that Edward Smith had the intent to harm her seriously.
Following the shooting, Edward, also known as Edvard Stockings, sent voice notes to someone called “Nana” admitting to shooting Lisa before taking his own life by jumping from a bridge in Dartford. In one of the voice notes, he expressed hope of being reunited with his wife in heaven after mentioning suicide.
The tragic event unfolded at the pub when Edward confronted Lisa and her friends after she had tried to leave. The altercation escalated, leading to Edward blocking their exit with his vehicle and firing shots at Lisa, resulting in her tragic death despite efforts to save her.
The coroner emphasized the swift and tragic nature of the incident, noting the inability to escape after the initial shots were fired. The conclusion drawn was that Lisa’s killing was intentional and preventable, underscoring the urgency of addressing domestic violence issues. An inquest into Edward Smith’s death is scheduled to take place later.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the need for timely intervention to prevent such senseless tragedies.