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An estranged husband accused of gunning down his wife and mother-in-law in a brutal double murder claimed he had terminal cancer and didn't have long to live, a court heard.

Craig Savage, 35, allegedly blasted his wife Michelle, 32, and her mother Heather Whitbread, 53, to death after stealing an assault rifle from a shooting range.

The court heard Savage was "desperate" to reconcile with his wife but when she refused he went round to the house and shot her dead with an M4 .22 calibre semi-automatic rifle.

He then turned the rifle on his mother-in-law and shot her six times in the back, it is claimed.

(Image: Kent Live)

Lewes Crown Court heard that on the day of the murders he stole the weapon from a 1066 Target Sports, a shooting range close to his home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

Ryan Graves, a deputy manager at Target Sports, said that on the day of the killing Savage had booked a slot at the range.

The court heard Savage bought a package which would allow him to use semi-automatic weapons.

But while he was at the range he told staff he had terminal prostate cancer and didn't have long to live.

The jury was told a tearful Savage claimed he had served in the Forces and added he had a 'Bucket List' of things he wanted to do before he died which included firing weapons on a range.

The court heard Savage tried out an AK47 before settling on the M4 semi-automatic rifle.

He went to the toilet on a couple of occasions and when he went into the range for the last time Savage sat in an area which was not covered by the range's CCTV cameras.

The jury heard Savage told Mr Graves he wanted 'to be remembered as a man' and 'didn't want to go out as a sympathetic' case.

The court heard that as Savage spoke Mr Graves became alarmed when Savage began to talk of 'cop-assisted suicide.'

(Image: PA)

Mr Graves said he tried to reassure him and to get him to put the rifle down but instead Savage, with tears in his eyes, said: "I'm sorry to do this. Let me go out."

The court heard Graves said: "Put it down. Let's talk. We can talk about it and help get you through."

Savage then lifted the rifle up, moved his finger to the trigger and pointed the weapon at Mr Graves' chest.

Mr Graves said he told Savage: "We can talk about this. Put the gun down."

The jury heard Savage then said: "I can't do that. It's not going to end well for anyone. Open the door. Open the door."

Savage then left the firing range with the gun and two magazines of ammunition containing up to 30 rounds each.

Earlier the court heard Savage went round to the three-bedroom house in St Leonards and shot his wife and mother-in-law dead. He also shot dead a black-and-white Staffordshire bull terrier called Zeus.

After the shooting Savage left the property and walked down the road where he was challenged by an armed police officer.

Sergeant Thomas Milne of Sussex Police told the court: 'I said: 'Armed police, stand still.'

He said Savage turned round, knelt down and pointed the rifle at him in a professionally-trained manner.

He said: "I shouted: 'Put the weapon down' I repeated this about three times. He did not say anything and he still had the gun pointed at me.

"I believed he was going to fire the weapon at me . I could see his eyes. He was focused on me and he was holding the weapon very steadily. He was very cold and professional."

Another officer, PC Jayan Shah, said: "I was completely convinced he had fired a single round in our direction. It was the manner in which he turned to us and the way the weapon was held into his shoulder.

"I shouted: "Tom has he just shot at us?" I was 95 per cent convinced he had shot at us."

The court heard Savage had not shot at the officers.

(Image: PA)

Savage escaped down onto the beach and was later apprehended by officers and arrested.

The court heard Michelle Savage suffered seven gunshot wounds, including a bullet to the heart, as well as cut and bruises.

She had also been shot in the sole of her foot and was found by police officers in a crouched position in the living room.

A pathologist found she had a muzzle mark over her left hip, consistent with the firearms being held close to her body

The court heard Savage shot his mother-in-law six times in the back in the hallway with all the bullets exiting the front of her body.

Ben Aina, prosecuting, said that over her left shoulder consistent she also had a muzzle mark consistent with an 'execution-type' killing.

He said: "These injuries are not consistent with an accident."

In interview the day after Savage said the killings were an accident and it was him that was meant to die.

He told officers: "It wasn't supposed to happen. It was me that was supposed to die not them. I wanted the police to kill me. I just wanted her to watch but I f***ed it up. I fell and the weapon discharged.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

"She came charging at me. She went straight for the weapon and we were wrestling. The weapon went off so many times in so many different directions."

Handcuffs, lubricant were found by police but Savage denied he was intending to rape his estranged wife.

Ben Aina QC told the jury: "You have to consider whether it was a cold-hearted murder of his wife and mother-in-law because Michelle had refused to reconcile. You have to consider whether what he did was an accident."

Savage is on trial after denying two counts of murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.