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Burbidge admitted shooting dead his mother and their four dogs
A man has been jailed for life after shooting dead his 71-year-old mother when bailiffs called to evict them.

Kevin Burbidge, 50, murdered Marion Merritt, a retired shop worker, at the home they shared in Lulworth Crescent, Hamworthy, Dorset, in March last year.

Burbidge, who admitted murder, then set the house alight and shot dead their four dogs over eviction proceedings.

Sentencing him at Bournemouth Crown Court, Mr Justice Royce ordered him to serve a minimum of 10 years.

Burbidge, who originally denied murder but changed his plea on Wednesday, also admitted two counts of unlawfully possessing firearms and one charge of possessing ammunition without a licence.

Police were called to the property on 3 March, where they found Mrs Merritt’s body in a bedroom.

She had been shot several times in the back of the head.

Burbidge also shot their two Rottweilers, and their Alsatian and spaniel in the head.

You had reached a stage of real desperation that day when you realised you and your mother were going to lose your home

Mr Justice Royce

Earlier that day a county court bailiff had attended their home to start a notified eviction process.

Nicholas Haggan QC, prosecuting, said Burbidge slammed the door in the face of the men and they then heard about 10 shots and left the scene.

He tried to shoot himself with a shotgun, but could not fire the trigger and gave himself up to police while still in possession of the firearms.

The court was told Burbidge had fallen behind with mortgage payments on the property over five years and lender Northern Rock had decided to evict them.

After the case, Supt Neil Redstone, of Dorset Police, said: “This is a particularly tragic case.

“Mrs Merritt had been in good health and had been enjoying her retirement with a close circle of family and friends.

Burbidge and his mother shared a bungalow in Hamworthy

“The exact circumstances of what exactly took place prior Mrs Merritt’s death may never fully be known, but Burbidge at an early stage admitted that he alone was responsible for killing his mother and the four dogs at the address.

“It is believed that Kevin Burbidge’s inability to prevent the eviction was the catalyst to his subsequent actions.”

Burbidge asked that no mitigation was given on his behalf.

Mr Justice Royce, told Burbidge: “You had reached a stage of real desperation that day when you realised you and your mother were going to lose your home.”

The judge said Northern Rock could not be criticised for the way it had handled the situation.

Source: BBC News