Three men charged with murder of businessman Guy Hedger

Three men have been charged with the murder of businessman Guy Hedger in Dorset.

Mr Hedger, 61, was shot in the early hours of 30 April at his £1m home in Ringwood allegedly during a botched burglary.

Kevin Downton, 40, from Winterborne Stickland near Blandford, Dorset, Jason Baccus, 41, and Scott Keeping, 44, both of Verney Close in Bournemouth, have been charged with murder and aggravated burglary.

All three are due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

A 40-year-old Bournemouth woman who was also arrested in relation to the case has been released under investigation.

Dorset police said a post-mortem examination confirmed Mr Hedger died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Mr Hedger’s civil partner witnessed the attack and was said to have been left "deeply affected".

In a statement, the insurance executive’s family described him as "a caring and compassionate partner, son, brother and uncle who lived life to its full and enriched the lives of all those who knew him".

They added: "We are devastated that Guy’s life has been cut short in this way.

"Guy will be sorely missed by family, friends and colleagues, but he will live in our hearts forever."

Detective Superintendent Kevin Connolly said investigations were still continuing and police are keen to contact anyone with information.

"There will continue to be heightened police presence in the area while enquiries take place and our local policing team is there for residents should they have concerns," he said.

(c) Sky News 2017: Three men charged with murder of businessman Guy Hedger