Man wrote 'karma is a bitch' before killing estranged wife and daughter with a shotgun
A "cold, calculated and scheming man" killed his wife and daughter before turning the gun on himself, an inquest in the UK has heard.
"Controlling" Lance Hart shot his wife of 26 years Claire days after she decided to leave him.
He fired a shotgun at close range at his 50-year-old wife along with daughter Charlotte, 19.
Claire Hart, 50 & Charlotte Hart, 19, were shot dead by Lance Hart, 57 pic.twitter.com/mECfYSMwpC
— CountingDeadWomen (@CountDeadWomen) July 22, 2016
He then killed himself near the Castle Sports Complex in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on July 19.
Coroner Paul Cooper concluded the deaths of Charlotte and Claire were unlawful killings and Hart's was suicide, adding: "He knew exactly what he was going to do.
"It was a single-barrel shotgun, so it was not a question of him just shooting his wife, he then had to unload it, put another cartridge in and shoot it again.
"In my view, this was a cold, calculated, scheming man who went out and deliberately murdered his wife and daughter.
"If he had lived... he would have been charged with murder. Unfortunately he didn't live to face the consequences of his actions. He took his own life."
Coroner returns 'unlawful killing' verdict in #Spalding shooting inquest #Lincolnshire https://t.co/q4BILd6PZ5 pic.twitter.com/0BgYi9uZR2
— ITV News Central (@ITVCentral) October 27, 2016
A 12-page note was found on a USB stick in Hart's car in which he explained his actions, the court heard.
Mr Cooper said the note from Hart, 57, contained the line: "Revenge is dish served cold, karma is a bitch."
Mrs Hart left her home in Moulton, Lincolnshire, on July 14 to move to a new property with the help of her family.
The court heard she was seen by a neighbour loading bags into a car and said: "He'll have a surprise when he gets home tonight. I've put up with enough for the past 15, 16 years."
The neighbour believed Mrs Hart was joking as "they were always a happy couple together", the court heard.
Dale Pateman, who worked with Mrs Hart at the Morrison's store in Spalding, said she had previously spoken of her marital problems.
Detective Inspector Helen Evans said: "Over the last two years, Claire had confided in Dale about problems she was having in her personal relationship with Lance Hart.
"She had described him as being a controlling and selfish man. Claire had told Dale she had become worn out by Lance's behaviour.
"Dale described Claire as beaming and really happy in the few days that had elapsed since leaving her husband."
What drove Lance Hart to shoot his wife and daughter Claire and Charlotte in #Spalding - https://t.co/OP8Tlacvk0 pic.twitter.com/tWKS0IznMZ
— Stamford Mercury (@Mercury1712) July 19, 2016
When Mr Pateman was told the couple would be meeting on July 19 to exchange documents and photographs, he warned her to be careful, the court heard.
Mrs Evans said: "Claire told him she would be OK as she would have Charlotte with her."
The couple's sons Ryan and Luke said in a statement following the inquest: "Charlotte and our mum were our inspiration and purpose in life.
"They were the two most virtuous and beautiful people we have ever encountered.
"It is not possible to describe how unfairly and how cruelly they have been taken from us.
"Our world is a darker place because they have gone."
