US Man Kills Girlfriend With Home-Made Cannon

A US man killed his girlfriend with a home-made cannon when the weapon went off and fired a missile into their mobile home.

Police say Richard Dale Fox, 39, had been drinking at the time of the incident and was "freaking out" when emergency services arrived at his home in Potrero , near the Mexican border in California.

A spokesman said it was unclear if Fox intended to fire the cannon, which killed his 38-year-old partner, but did not injure the couple's four-year-old daughter and three other people in the trailer at the time.

Local homicide detective David Martinez said the girlfriend, whose identity was not released until relatives had been informed, died of shrapnel wounds at the scene.

Fox was taken to hospital in San Diego for treatment to leg injuries he suffered when the makeshift mortar went off.

He was then arrested on suspicion of detonating an explosive device in a manner resulting in death.

The death was initially reported as an accident, but Mr Martinez said Fox's motives were unclear, telling reporters it was "too early to say it was accidental".

The exact nature of the homemade cannon or the projectile involved were not immediately clear, but it apparently involved explosives taken from fireworks, Mr Martinez said.

Police said the couple's daughter was handed over to child protection services.

Fox was devastated by his girlfriend's death, according to his brother who spoke to him on the phone moments after the blast.

Jerry Fox told U-T San Diego: "He said 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It should have been me.'

"He likes to live life on the edge."