Sunday 10 October 2010

Ex-Businessman Shoots Wife To Dodge Payout



A retired businessman tried to execute his estranged wife – shooting her in the head three times - just hours after she saw a lawyer to discuss a financial settlement.

Ronald Seymour, 70, (pictured) of Hendon Lane, Finchley, North London is facing years behind bars for the shooting.

Miraculously 65 year-old ex-croupier Sonia Delvaille survived, but still has two bullets lodged in her skull and is suffering long-term life-changing effects.

Seymour was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of attempted murder in Cavendish Avenue, Finchley Central on February 11.

He admitted possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on October 27.

Detective Inspector Sally Jeffrey of Operation Trident’s Non-fatal Shootings Team – which investigates black-on-black violence - said: “The relationship between Seymour and his wife had broken down over a period of time causing much animosity between them and, as a result of his actions, leaving Mrs Delvaille ultimately fighting for her life.

“The Metropolitan Police Service is determined to bring perpetrators' of domestic violence to justice and deal with the victims' and their families sensitively.”

Witnesses described how Mrs Delvaille and her husband had been arguing and he had dragged her down the street whilst she was screaming.

He then fired a handgun from inside a white plastic bag, and as she fell to the floor he fired a further two shots at her before running away.

An hour later police received a call from a solicitors firm stating the defendant had rang them and confessed he had shot his wife.

Seymour was sitting on a wall as armed police attended the address and arrested him in the street.

He told officers he had shot his wife and threw the gun into a stream in Waverley Grove.

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