{"id":184955,"date":"2023-12-20T18:59:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T18:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=184955"},"modified":"2023-12-20T18:59:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T18:59:56","slug":"farmer-shot-dead-his-wife-after-discovering-affair-friend-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/farmer-shot-dead-his-wife-after-discovering-affair-friend-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmer shot dead his wife after discovering affair, friend claims"},"content":{"rendered":"
A farmer’s wife who died in a suspected murder-suicide alongside her estranged husband had been having an affair, it was claimed today.<\/p>\n
Richard Harrison is believed to have shot wife Rachel, 54, at their isolated farm before turning the weapon on himself.<\/p>\n
Today a friend of the 59-year-old sheep and cattle farmer believed Mr Harrison killed his wife \u2013 the district commissioner of her local branch of the Pony Club – after she found another lover.<\/p>\n
The friend said: ‘He and his wife split up not very long ago, but she had been seeing another man. He only recently told me, but I think it had been going on for a while. He suspected, because she was coming home late at night, that kind of thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘They weren’t living together, but she would come back and cook meals, that kind of thing.<\/p>\n
‘But it is still a shock. I only saw him last week, and he seemed in a positive, sound frame of mind. He’d lost weight and was looking well. There was no suggestion this was going to happen.’<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rachel Harrison, 54, (pictured) was found dead alongside her husband Richard, 59,\u00a0at their farm in the village of Saddington, Leicestershire<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Richard Harrison (pictured) is believed to have shot wife Rachel, 54, at their isolated farm before turning the weapon on himself, a friend claims<\/p>\n
The Harrisons were found dead at their farm in the village of Saddington, Leicestershire on Friday.<\/p>\n
A post-mortem examination later confirmed that both died from gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n
Detectives from Leicestershire Police said an investigation was ongoing but they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.<\/p>\n
The couple are thought to have two children together, while Mr Harrison also has children from a previous marriage.<\/p>\n
As well as running the cattle farm, the couple delivered eggs locally.<\/p>\n
The friend, who asked to remain anonymous, added: ‘Richard was very knowledgeable, and very well liked. Everybody sympathised with him, and had time for him.<\/p>\n
‘It will be a very busy funeral, a big turnout.’<\/p>\n
A resident from a nearby property said: ‘They were a lovely couple and a really nice family. We have no idea why this would have happened. It is like something from a horror film.<\/p>\n
‘Rachel would deliver eggs to my house, and we would see Richard riding his horse and moving his sheep up the road. It is a horrendous shock specially so close to Christmas.’<\/p>\n
One friend said the couple ‘seemed so together’.<\/p>\n
‘I am finding it all very shocking and hope their family are getting all the support they need,’ she said.<\/p>\n
Police were called to the village – home to just 300 – just before 11am on Friday 15 December by East Midlands Ambulance Service following a report of a man and a woman found dead.<\/p>\n
Detective inspector David Greenhalgh, from the East Midlands special operations unit major crime team, said: ‘This is a deeply tragic incident and officers are continuing to support the family during this extremely difficult time.<\/p>\n
‘We will continue to carry out enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident, but I can confirm we do not believe anyone else was involved in the incident and a file will be prepared for H.M. Coroner.’<\/p>\n
Facebook users paid tribute online. Lee Sanderson. said: ‘Sad news about Richard Harrison from Saddington…just shows you never know what’s going on in someone’s head, thoughts are with the family.<\/p>\n
Carol O’Neill said the Harrisons delivered their eggs. ‘Devastating news. ..what is going on in the world …cannot believe it.’<\/p>\n
Simon Knight added: ‘Very sad to hear about this…rest in peace my friend.’<\/p>\n