Home is centre of big murder probe

The fire-ravaged country home of millionaire Christopher Foster was the centre of a huge murder probe today after his wife was killed by a gunshot to the head and the remains of a third body was discovered.

The focus of the whole country has turned to the small idyllic hamlet of Maesbrook, since the blaze tore through Osbaston House and its surrounding buildings on Tuesday.

Friends and family of the Fosters are desperately waiting for any developments as the mystery behind the events at the £1.15 million home unfolds.

Ian Coe, the Foster family's farrier, who worked at Osbaston House just days before the blaze, today paid tribute to Mrs Foster.

Mr Coe said: "They were a wonderful happy family. They were an absolute pleasure to work for - the nicest people I'd met.

"It's very sad. Horses were their life and that's all they did.

"The last time I was there, just a few days before the fire, they were getting Kirstie ready to go back to school and Jill was asking about her business studies coursework - it was all very ordinary."Mr Coe, 43, said Kirstie was planning to improve her horse riding.

He said: "It's a huge shock. Kirstie was thinking of moving on to better things, more eventing and more show jumping.

"Chris and Jill were looking for a bigger horse for her. She had everything to look forward too.

"We'd be working there and Chris would be walking the dogs and would always come and talk.

"Jill was always very smart, a beautiful lady, but they would always get their hands dirty and work too. We can only hope there's good news for what's left, because we cannot do anything for Jill now, she's gone."

Businessman Tudor Griffiths, owner of the Tudor Griffiths Group, and his wife Rita were also devastated by their friend's murder.

Mr Griffiths, who enjoyed the company of the Foster family at his wife's 40th birthday party a few weeks before the blaze, said: "It's just a dreadful, dreadful tragedy and I think it will take a long time to come to terms with it. Everyone will be devastated."

An Oswestry businessman who hosted a barbecue at his Maesbrook home for friends, including the Foster family, on the night before the blaze, was one of the last to see them.

He was too upset to speak about Mrs Foster's murder today, but said everyone would be devastated.

Alex Rothwell, chairman of the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), said Kirstie was a member and said that she was a "bubbly young girl who loved her ponies".

See also:

Third body found at Foster home

Wife's body found at arson house

Computers recovered from house

Did pressure cause millionaire to 'flip'?

Kirstie 'on net' before blaze

Businessman 'risked losing £1m home'

Forensics team's grim search

Latest search pictures

Inside Osbaston Hall before the blaze

Scene of the mansion blaze