Shooting murderer claimed partner injured herself

Richard Basson — Image caption,

Detectives said Basson had shown no remorse for killing the woman he claimed to love

By Dan Martin

BBC News, Leicester

A man has been found guilty of murdering his partner by shooting her in the head.

Richard Basson killed Carrie Slater with a pistol at their home in Long Clawson, in Leicestershire, but told police she injured herself by walking into a pool cue he was jabbing at her.

The 45-year-old was convicted of murdering Ms Slater following a trial at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday.

Police said Basson had shown no remorse and never explained why he killed her.

Image caption,

Police found Carrie Slater with critical injuries at a home in Long Clawson

During the trial, jurors heard Leicestershire Police went to the couple's home, in King's Road in the village, at about 18:45 GMT on 21 September 2023 after Basson called 999.

Detectives said he told the call handler Ms Slater, 37, "had been stabbed in the face with a pool cue".

He admitted he had stabbed her but claimed he had not meant to.

"I meant [to] like just warn her and like jab at her and she walked straight into it with her head down," Basson said.

The emergency services attended the scene and found Ms Slater in a bedroom with a critical injury to the front of her head.

Police said Basson was behaving erratically and refusing to co-operate with officers but he did admit causing Ms Slater's injuries.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but police searching the bungalow found a self-loading pistol and four rounds of ammunition – two live and two spent – in the back garden.

Basson footage — Image caption,

Police body camera footage shows Basson acting erratically and struggling with officers

Ms Slater was taken to hospital where medics established she had been shot.

She was placed on life support but died two days later.

Basson, who remained in custody, was subsequently further arrested and charged with murder.

Following Tuesday's hearing, Det Inspector Emma Matts, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit major crime team, said: "My thoughts and condolences go out to Carrie's family and loved ones, who I know are still struggling to come to terms with their loss and understand why Carrie was killed.

"Only Basson knows why he killed a woman he claimed to love. He's never explained his actions. He's never shown any remorse for killing another person."

Basson is due to be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday.