Jealous husband shot wife dead before killing himself, inquest hears

A jealous husband shot his wife dead before killing himself, an inquest has heard. Robert Jobson, 84, and his wife Rosemary, 69, had represented England in shooting competitions and ran a shooting school at their home, White Lodge, in Thornton Curtis, Lincolnshire.

Robert shot his wife twice as she emerged from her car outside the family home on July 14, 2023. He then turned the gun on himself. The inquest into their deaths held at Cleethorpes Town Hall on Thursday (January 8) heard Robert had been detained by police six days earlier for allegedly assaulting Rosemary.

Coroner Jayne Wilkes heard that Rosemary had contacted the police a month before she was killed to voice concerns about guns kept at the couple's home.

Humberside Police arranged for six shotguns kept securely at White Lodge to be removed, but Robert had obtained a double-barreled shotgun from a friend in Grimsby just hours before Rosemary returned home on the day she died.

He told his friend, who wasn't aware of the couple's strained relationship, that he wanted the gun to shoot crows, according to Hull Daily Mail.

Rosemary had told the police she was divorcing her husband. The inquest heard Robert believed his wife was having an affair after she went on holiday with their friend, Peter Hrynyk. In a statement read at the inquest, Mr Hyynyk said their relationship was platonic.

He said Rosemary was feeling "very scared and vulnerable" during that time and was staying with him following the alleged assault.

When she returned to White Lodge to collect some of her things, Robert shot her - once from a few metres away and then at close range. He then shot himself in the neck in a shed near the house.

In tribute, Rosemary's daughter from a previous marriage, Paula O'Donnell, who lives in New Zealand, said she was aware of the breakdown in the marriage. She said: "She was a good mum."

Rosemary also had a son from the previous marriage. Paula said Rosemary first met Robert while riding on a hunt, and he had helped her when she fell off her horse. Robert owned Killingholme Animal Feeds, and Rosemary joined him there.

The 1998 British All Round Ladies Champion, Rosemary, also won a team silver with England at the 2002 World Shooting Championships in New Zealand. Robert had also represented England.

Paula said Robert was old-fashioned and demanding, and always strict. She explained the couple bought White Lodge to turn it into a shooting school, transforming the 12-acre site into a "spectacular" one.

Rosemary provided the food for corporate shooting events as well as giving lessons in shooting and archery.

Paula said the age gap between Rosemary and Robert became more apparent as he got older, adding that she saw her mother's confidence decline.

She told the inquest Robert had refused to sign the divorce papers, telling the inquest: "She did not deserve to be taken away from me like that. I miss her so much. She was warm-hearted, hard-working and bright and had a love of life and dancing. She was the most thoughtful person I know."

In her conclusion, the coroner said the shooting was a deliberate and intentional act carried out by Rosemary's husband. She said it was an unlawful killing and concluded that Robert had died by suicide.

Earlier, Ms Wilkes told the hearing: "Unlawful killing is not murder because this is not a criminal court. But on the balance of probabilities, I would be satisfied that Rose was murdered."

Addressing family members, Ms Wilkes said: "What happened that day changed all of your lives forever. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to each and every one of you for the loss of Rose and Robert."