Investigators looking for the gun used in the alleged murder of a businessman have found parts of a sawn-off shotgun in a nearby river.
Guy Hedger, 61, died from shotgun wounds after intruders reportedly broke into his £1million home in Castlewood, Dorset, in the early hours of April 30.
Dorset Police say the parts, which were found in the River Stour in the Canford Magna area of Wimborne, ‘may be of significance’.
Detectives carried out an extensive four-day search between August 25 to August 28 to try to find the weapon believed to have killed Mr Hedger.
Guy Hedger (above) was killed at his home in Castleford, Dorset, when he was shot with a sawn-off shotgun
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘We have conducted a number of searches during this investigation and the find may be of significance.
‘We thank everyone for their patience and cooperation during the four-day search and apologise for any disruption caused to the public while the searches were carried out.
‘We would still urge anyone with information in relation to this case who has not already contacted us to come forward.’
Dorset Police carried out extensive searches in a bid to find any information which could lead them to finding out who killed Mr Hedger
Anyone with information which could help police in the case of Mr Hedger have been urged to come forward by Dorset Police
Police were called to Mr Hedger’s home at 3am on April 30 after reports the insurance executive had been shot with a shotgun
Dorset Police say the parts, which were found in the River Stour in the Canford Magna area of Wimborne, ‘may be of significance’
Police were called to Mr Hedger’s home at 3am on April 30 after reports the insurance executive had been shot with a shotgun. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital.
Simon-Pierre Hedger-Cooper, 48, was in the property when his husband was shot.
A £10,000 reward has been offered by Crimestoppers for information which leads to the discovery of the shotgun used in the incident as well as any jewellery that was allegedly stolen.
Married couple Scott and Helen Keeping have been arrested in connection with the death of Guy Hedger, 61, who was burgled in his mansion and shot dead
A £10,000 reward has been offered by Crimestoppers for information which leads to the discovery of the shotgun used in the incident as well as any jewellery that was allegedly stolen
Mr Hedger served as a director for the Avonbourne International Business and Enterprise Trust, which runs colleges and a primary school in the Bournemouth area.
Kevin Downton, 40, from Winterborne Stickland near Blandford, Jason Baccus, 41, and Scott Keeping, 44, both of Verney Close, Bournemouth, are all charged with murder.
Helen Cooper, also known as Helen Keeping, is charged with assisting an offender.
The defendants will next appear at Winchester Crown Court on September 8.
A 39-year-old Bournemouth man and 46-year-old Poole man previously arrested in relation to the incident were released under investigation.