Former police firearms officer killed daughter's partner with shotgun as he made 999 call

A retired police firearms instructor who shot his daughter’s partner dead as he made a 999 call has been jailed for life.

David Hucker, 69, who used a 12-bore shotgun to kill Robert Williamson, 43, on 11 May, will serve a minimum of 26 years in prison.

He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday after being convicted of murder.

The two men, both described in court as "alpha males", had rowed over Hucker's daughter and Mr Williamson's plan to move in with the former firearms instructor.

Hucker was recorded carrying out the shooting at his home in Dartford, Kent, as his victim made a 999 call, which was played in court.

Mr Williamson, a father-of-two, was shot twice by Hucker, suffering gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.

Both shots were heard on the victim’s 999 call.

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The court was told the two men had been heard arguing in Hucker’s garden that morning, and continued to do so when Mr Williamson returned three hours later, causing him to call 999 from a bedroom.

On his arrest, Hucker told police: "I used to be a firearms instructor for 40 years and worked for the City of London Police and what did I do, shoot the ****ing son-in-law?"

In the recording, the court heard Hucker shout: "I'll boot that door off.”

Mr Williamson was heard screaming after the first shot was fired, telling the 999 operator: "He's just shot me in the ****ing chest."

The court heard Hucker picked up the phone after shooting Mr Williamson and said: "You'd better send a policeman and an ambulance, but I don't think you're going to need an ambulance."

"I think it's past that. He is on the floor bleeding all over the place.”

Nicholas Corsellis QC, prosecuting, said: "These words speak for themselves. They reflect the fact that the defendant was enraged and intentionally killed his daughter’s partner."

Hucker’s daughter and Mr Williamson’s partner, Samantha, had told the court the pair were “alpha males”.

The two men had fallen out over the couple’s plans to move into the house where Hucker lived, which was owned by Ms Hucker.

The court heard Hucker had previously told his daughter: "He ain’t ****ing moving in here. I will kill him before he moves in here.

"He’s arrogant, he’s got attitude. It ain’t happening. It’s not his house or your house – it’s my house."

Mr Corsellis said: "The defendant went into the bedroom where Mr Williamson was on the telephone to the police.

"There he shot Mr Williamson, who was unarmed, to the chest with the first cartridge. He knew he had done so and that Mr Williamson was severely injured and defenceless.

"Sixteen seconds later, he shot Mr Williamson with the second of the cartridges to his neck and head."

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Ms Hucker told the court: "They were the two great loves of my life... my hero, my dad, my superman and Robert the great love of my life.

"I knew I had lost both of them that day."

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber, Kent Police’s senior investigating officer for the case, said: "Mr Williamson was needlessly robbed of his life in an act of extreme, premeditated and senseless violence.

"While I am pleased we have now secured a conviction, I am saddened that Mr Williamson’s loved ones have had to relive these events in court.

"I would also like to commend the actions of the call handler, who was presented with an exceptionally distressing call.

"Despite the challenges they had to contend with, they completed their duties with exceptional professionalism.”

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