Shooting inquest 'step towards closure'

Mrs Conway was shot in the stomach

A man whose wife was shot and killed on the last night of a holiday in South Africa said the inquest into her death was a "step towards closure".

Diane Conway and her husband John were staying near the Kruger National Park last October when a man broke into their hotel room and demanded money.

When the couple, who had been celebrating Mrs Conway's 60th birthday, refused to hand over any cash, golf caddie Prince Mogane, 19, shot them.

Mrs Conway, from Warminster, Wiltshire, was hit in the stomach and died from her wounds. On Tuesday, an inquest into her death recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Life imprisonment

Mogane was jailed for life after admitting murder and also sentenced to 44 years in prison for other charges including attempted murder, robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.

Two other men suspected of involvement in Mrs Conway's murder were also arrested.

The inquest at Salisbury coroner's court heard a report from the South African police, and Mr Conway, who was struck in the throat by a bullet in the attack but survived, also spoke of the shooting.

He told the hearing: "Three shots were fired. The first missed, the second one hit me and I was heading towards the ground. Diane screamed and he shot her."

A post mortem examination found Mrs Conway died from a gunshot wound to the stomach with bleeding.

'Coping well'

Speaking after the inquest's ruling at Salisbury Coroner's Court, Mr Conway said the family were coping well.

He said: "It's the whole British thing about mutual support and moving forward and not standing still - that is what we have done with the family and also with our friends."

He said he would not have total closure until he had been to South Africa to collect his wife's belongings, which he has been invited to do by authorities there.

Mr Conway said: "I said at the time I would continue to support South Africa as a tourist venue but people have just got to be aware that these things go on."

He added: "I do not feel anything for the people who were involved in this."