Man shot wife before killing himself, inquest finds

A man who thought his wife was having an affair shot her twice before killing himself at their home where they ran a shooting school, an inquest has found.

Rosemary Jobson, 69, and Robert Jobson, 84, were found dead at White Lodge, College Road, Thornton Curtis, in North Lincolnshire, on 14 July 2023.

Inquests into the deaths of the couple heard Robert Jobson had been arrested on 8 July after Rosemary Jobson reported to police that he had assaulted her.

Coroner Jayne Wilkes said the case was “of a particularly shocking nature” and described the pair as well-known in the local community and “well-loved”.

The inquests at Cleethorpes Town Hall found Rosemary Jobson had been shot twice by her husband as she got out of her car outside her home.

Robert Jobson then shot himself in the neck in a lean-to shed at the side of the house.

The inquests heard the Jobsons had met while hunting on horseback and moved to White Lodge, where they set up White Lodge Shooting School.

On 20 June 2023, Rosemary Jobson contacted a police officer, explained she was divorcing her husband and expressed concerns about the guns in the house.

Subsequently, all guns were removed from the property on 23 June.

Giving evidence, Det Insp Samantha Chester of Humberside Police, said Rosemary Jobson reported on 7 July that her husband had assaulted her in the previous week.

Robert Jobson was arrested on 8 July but was conditionally bailed the day after and told not to contact his wife or to go to their home.

The inquests heard Robert Jobson had previously overdosed on medication in 2021 in an attempt to take his own life after an argument with his wife.

He suffered with cognitive impairment in relation to his memory, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder and had undergone mental health assessments after his arrest.

The inquests heard Robert Jobson thought his wife was having an affair with their friend, Peter Hrynyk, with whom she had been on holiday.

But, in a statement from Hrynyk read out in court, he described their relationship as “platonic” and said Rosemary Jobson felt “very scared and vulnerable”.

Rosemary Jobson was staying with Hrynyk after the assault in July but, after she returned to her home for clothes, she was found dead in front of her house by a neighbour.

A post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr Kirsten Hope found Rosemary Jobson’s cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

She was shot first from several metres away, then again from probably less than a metre away, a ballistics report found.

A post-mortem report from Hope found Robert Jobson died from “a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound” to his neck.

The ballistics report stated a shotgun was recovered near Robert Jobson’s body.

The inquests heard that a friend of the couple lent Robert Jobson a shotgun on 14 July after he had asked to borrow it, stating he had a problem with crows.

Wilkes said: “On the balance of probabilities, Rose died from the deliberate and intentional act of her husband… this was an unlawful killing.”

She added “on the balance of probabilities, there was premeditation”.

Wilkes said Robert Jobson had died “from a deliberate act which he committed with intention to end his life, and, on this basis, my conclusion is one of suicide”.

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In a statement read out by Wilkes, Robert Jobson’s daughter, Joanne Sheppard, described her father as hard-working and “a very proud man”.

The coroner also referred to a statement from Paula O’Donnell – Rosemary Jobson’s daughter from her first marriage.

“It was clear that Ms O’Donnell urged her mum to leave Robert,” said Wilkes. “But her mum said: ‘It’s OK, he loves me, he wouldn’t hurt me’.”

In her statement, O’Donnell said: “It has left a massive hole in my heart forever. I miss her so much.

“She was the most thoughtful person I know, always helping others, no matter what.”

While addressing the family members in court, Wilkes said: “What happened that day changed all of your lives forever. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to each and every one of you for the loss of Rose and Robert.”