'Frustrated' son shot father

John Paine had been a Shepway district councillor since 1995

A farmer shot dead his local councillor father because he would not retire from the family business, an inquest has heard.

John Paine, who had been a Conservative councillor for 18 years, was killed on the farm in Washington Lane in Romney Marsh on 10 July.

The inquest at Ashford Magistrates' Court heard how his son Michael Paine, 45, had become depressed and angry at his father's refusal to transfer assets to him.

The "frustrated" potato farmer shot his 78-year-old father three times in the chest and once in the head in his office, killing him instantly.

John was, I'm afraid, suspicious that Michael was trying to acquire assets for himself Beatrice Paine, wife and mother

He then shot himself in the head and died two days later at King's College Hospital in London.

The coroner returned a verdict of the unlawful killing of John Paine and ruled that Michael Paine had committed suicide.

The inquest heard how Michael Paine, who managed the business, had been on good terms with his father until 1997.

At that time, he asked John Paine to transfer assets into his name to avoid paying death duties - but the Romney Marsh councillor refused because he was suspicious of his son's motives.

Bought a gun

Relatives and other witnesses told the inquest the pair had argued constantly over the next few years.

Beatrice Paine, the wife and mother of the victims, said reading her son's letters had convinced her his actions were premeditated.

She said: "John was, I'm afraid, suspicious that Michael was trying to acquire assets for himself.

"Michael could not change his father's opinion. I'm sure his motives were altruistic but I'm afraid my husband was not convinced."

Beatrice Paine only discovered after the shooting that her son had bought a gun and said she had had no idea what he was planning.

Michael's wife Elizabeth Paine said her husband had been depressed and had spoken about taking his own and his father's life.