A ‘crossbow killer’ murdered a man and injured his pregnant girlfriend by breaking into their home through their adjoining loft and laying in wait.
Anthony Lawrence, 55, forced his way into the house of neighbours Shane Gilmer, 30, and Laura Sugden, 27, before shooting him dead and seriously injuring her.
Today more details of the murderous attack were revealed by a close relative of the couple who asked for his identify to be withheld.
He claimed Lawrence had sought bloody revenge on the couple when he was evicted because they told his landlord he smoked cannabis.
Shane Gilmer, 30, and his girlfriend Laura Sugden (pictured together), 27, moved next door to wanted suspect Anthony Lawrence a few months ago
Lawrence’s home is believed to be on the left, and Mr Gilmer’s is said to be on the right
The un-named relative also said they couple had complained about the excessive noise coming from Lawrence’s semi-detached home when their children were in bed
He said the couple’s family wanted to make it clear that Mr Gilmer and Ms Sugden were ‘entirely innocent’ and just ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’.
He said: ‘About a year ago, the murderer was repeatedly playing loud music while their [Shane’s] kids were in bed.
‘Shane knocked on the door and the murderer asked him to go around the back and he came out of the house threatening Shane and Laura.’
The family member said the couple heard nothing more of the incident for about a year, but recently informed Lawrence’s landlord that he was smoking cannabis.
They added: ‘Then recently, Shane and Laura could smell cannabis in their kids’ bedrooms coming from next door and reported him and the murderer was to be evicted for this.
Mr Gilmer (left) was rushed to the Hull Royal Infirmary where he died following a crossbow attack. Police were searching for Anthony Lawrence (right) and have now found his body
The body of Lawrence was found in a campervan in a rural part of North Yorkshire last night
‘He told the couple that he blamed them for himself being evicted.
‘He had removed part of the dividing wall [in the loft] and cleaned up so nobody would notice.
‘We don’t know how long ago he had done that or how many times he had been inside their house.’
Mr Gilmer’s family, who are from Goole, East Yorkshire, said his partner is just days away from leaving hospital after making a physical recovery.
The attack happened at around 9.25pm on Friday, January 12, and as Ms Sugden managed to escape, Lawrence went on the run.
Villagers in the sleepy hamlet-village of Southburn, near Driffield, East Yorkshire, were ‘in shock’ over the killing – which is the first murder in the area for a generation.
The manhunt lasted just short of two days when a tip off led Humberside Police officers to a camper van in Hackness in the tranquil North York Moors.
The dead body of Lawrence was found inside.
Police forensic officers leave the homes of Lawrence and Mr Gilmer in Southburn today
Police forensic officers stand and sit outside the houses in the rural location of Southburn
Tributes have been left for Mr Gilmer outside his home in the East Yorkshire countryside
Mr Gilmer was described by his ‘heartbroken’ family as ‘a fantastic son and brother’.
Paying tribute from her hospital bed, his partner Ms Sugden said: ‘My heart aches more and more every day – all our life plans gone within the blink of an eye.
‘I will love you forever and always.
‘I have memories that will last me a lifetime, love always your dream girl Laura.’
Mr Gilmer’s parents, Pat and Adrian, and his brother Joe , have also thanked the community in Goole for their support.
A statement released by the family read: ‘Shane was a fantastic son and brother and we were so proud of him.
A mile-long area of the small village in Driffield (pictured) was cordoned off by police
The body of Lawrence was found last night in the rural North Yorkshire location of Hackness
‘He went through life like a whirlwind with his lovely smile and loud, barking laugh and was always there if anybody needed him.
‘He was a great father to his beautiful children and had another baby on the way, which he was so looking forward to.
‘There are no words to describe our utter devastation at the loss of Shane and life will never ever be the same again.
‘Thank you Shaneybobs for the 30 years of happiness, love and laughter that you gave us.’
Tributes have also been paid by Mr Gilmer’s colleagues at the East Riding of Yorkshire Council where he worked as a housing officer.
Nick Dainton, acting media representative for the East Riding Tenants Association, said: ‘We’d like to extend our condolences and, of course, our sadness at this time. We have cancelled all upcoming tenants association meetings.’