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DOUBLE murder suspect David Oakes, alleged to have blasted his girlfriend and child with a shotgun, was fighting for life in hospital last night.

His family said he is in a “life threatening” condition after wounds caused when he turned his gun on himself became infected.

Oakes, 50, is in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex. He has been under armed guard since last Monday’s shootings, which claimed the lives of Christine Chambers, 38, and Shania, two.

He has huge facial wounds and has been struggling to breathe after a tracheotomy pipe was removed.

Last night his father Peter Oakes, 79, said: “I’ve been told David is deteriorating with a bad infection.

“Before I would have been devastated, but if what they say about him is true, maybe I don’t feel so bad about it.”

It is understood detectives have not yet had an opportunity to question Oakes.