Mum Shot Dead Days After Warning Cops

A "pestered and harassed" mother told police of her concerns just nine days before she and her toddler daughter were shot dead in their home.

Christine Chambers contacted officers on May 27, the latest incident in during two years of contact with Essex Police, initial investigations by the Independent Police Complaints Commission found.

Ms Chambers, 38, and two-year-old Shania were found dead early Monday following a stand-off between police and a gunman inside their home in Bartram Avenue, Braintree.

The police watchdog launched an investigation into the force's involvement with the family in the lead up to their deaths.

It said it was "still collating" previous contact between Ms Chambers and officers as

In her last statement to police, the mother-of-four had reported that she was being "pestered and harrassed", the IPCC said.

Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: "Nobody could fail to have been shocked by what happened in Braintree yesterday and my thoughts are with Christine and Shania's family.

"Our independent investigation will focus on the previous reports to police and how they responded.

"We have to be very mindful that there is a double murder inquiry under way and we therefore need to be cautious about the information we make public at this stage so as not to interfere with that ongoing investigation.

"At this stage, it is too early to say whether police responded appropriately to each incident and this is something that will take time to establish, but we will make our findings public as soon as we are able."

Flowers and cuddly toys have been left outside the property by wellwishers who are coing to terms with the violent attack.

Neighbour Karran Tomlinson said: "Chrissie had an infectious laugh. If you were ever having a bad day, just hearing that laugh would cheer you up."

Another neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "Everybody is still in shock. She was somebody who we all knew and could talk to and we can't believe she has gone."

Ms Chambers' brother, Stuart Flitt, had regularly stayed at the house to protect his sister after she received threatening text messages.

He said: "The police didn't seem to take her seriously and we feel they could have done more."

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