A solicitor who was shot in the head as he worked at his desk in a quiet market town has been described as a "lovely" family man who would do anything for anybody.
The lawyer, named locally as father of three James Ward, was shot as he sat at his desk at Morris Goddard and Ward in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Ward, who was airlifted to Frenchay hospital in Bristol, remained in "a very serious condition". His family was at his bedside.
A 62-year-old man was arrested shortly after the shooting on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody at Melksham police station.
Wiltshire police said they were called shortly before 3pm on Monday. A spokesperson said: "A man entered an office at Morris, Goddard and Ward on St John's Street armed with a gun and fired a single shot injuring a man. Specialist armed response officers quickly arrested a suspect in Rowde [two miles away]. No one else was injured in the incident and a weapon we believe to have been used in the incident has been recovered."
A neighbour at Ward's large red-brick farmhouse in Westbury, Wiltshire, who did not want to be named, said the solicitor would do anything for anybody. He said: "He is just such a lovely man. The whole family is lovely. It is such a shock this has happened – he wouldn't hurt a fly. It's the type of thing you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy – I can't think why anybody would have done this.
"We have all been praying for him at the local village church and we hope that he gets better – you have to have faith. He's just such a nice man."
Morris Goddard and Ward was set up in 1988, specialising in matrimonial and family law, personal injury, general legal claims and residential conveyancing. Ward is listed as principal solicitor at the practice.
Another neighbour of Ward, who also did not want to be named, said: "It's such a shock, you don't really expect it. He would always get involved in village activities and was always very friendly."
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Saunders said: "My team have continued working overnight and officers will be carrying out further checks of CCTV, house to house inquiries and forensic examination of the scene.
"I would like to appeal for anyone who was in the area of St John's Street, Devizes, around 3pm yesterday afternoon to make contact with police as they may have important information to assist the investigation."
Police emphasised that such incidents were very uncommon. Local inspector Ron Peach said: "I would like to stress how very rare incidents such as this are in Devizes, and across the county. However, we recognise that the community will be concerned and will experience some disruption as officers conduct inquiries.
"The road closures have now been lifted and we would like to thank residents for their understanding and co-operation. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim at this difficult time."
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Katie Holmes’s Hire of Attorney Allan E. Mayefsky Signals Hardball Strategy Against Tom Cruise - Daily Beast
Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan has handled plenty of high-powered divorces involving hedge-fund executives as well as Hollywood celebrities. For example, Kay LeRoy contacted the law firm when she filed a lawsuit against her husband, the late Warner LeRoy, who owned New York’s famed Tavern on the Green restaurant, claiming numerous infidelities. So did Peter Cook, the philandering former husband of model and actress Christie Brinkley, who found out he was cheating with an 18-year-old former toy-store clerk.
Recently, the firm represented French billionaire and husband of Salma Hayek, François-Henri Pinault, in his vicious battle with supermodel Linda Evangelista over child-support payments for their 5-year-old son.
Source: www.thedailybeast.com
Pictured on his drive with his gleaming Ferrari, the 62-year-old arrested over the shooting of solicitor in his office at point blank range - Daily Mail
- Businessman Michael Chudleigh, 62, was arrested at home in Rowde, Wilts
- Mr Chudleigh, who runs Kingfisher Builders, is listed as living at a sprawling converted farm house with former business partner Francine Whale
- James Ward, 59, is fighting for his life after being blasted in the head
- It is believed he was shot at his desk – with stray bullets hitting windows
- Mr Ward described by neighbours as a 'lovely man' who 'wouldn't hurt a fly'
By Matt Blake
|
The property developer arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder a solicitor is a Ferrari-driving millionaire, it has emerged.
Businessman Michael Chudleigh, 62, was arrested on Monday in his home village of Rowde, Wiltshire, 35 minutes after a gunman walked into a solicitor's office and shot a man in the face.
Solicitor James Ward, 59, is fighting for his life after being blasted in the head, as partner Nicola Morris - who also works at his firm - waits in a bedside vigil.
Suspect: Michael Chudleigh at his house in Wiltshire in 2007. The 62-year-old has been named locally as the man arrested by police in connection with the shooting of solicitor James Ward in Devizes yesterday
It is believed the victim was shot at his desk – with stray bullets smashing nearby windows.
Mr Chudleigh, who runs Kingfisher Builders, is listed as living at a sprawling converted farm house with former business partner Francine Whale.
But it is thought he was evicted and the property repossessed by the mortgage company in April.
It also emerged that Mr Chudleigh had previously admitted a passionate fling after getting involved in a bitter love triangle.
Shot: Solicitor James Ward who is fighting for his life after being shot in the head at his office in Wiltshire
He had a nine year affair with married blonde Rachel Leigh and admitted to romping in woods behind her house while her husband David was at work.
But it ended when she began having another relationship in 2004.
The builder, who showered his married lover with over 100,000 worth of gifts including a new Ferrari, stormed round to her address and confronted Rachel and her husband.
A window was smashed, police were called and he ended up in a tussle with an officer.
He was later found not guilty of criminal damage, assaulting a police officer and a public order offence, following a trial in 2007.
Speaking after the case, Mr Chudleigh said: 'Rachel was the love of my life.
'I left my former partner Carol for her. I left my house for her. I left everything for her - but she has left me in bits.
'I even proposed to her in Winchester Cathedral and gave her an 8,000 sapphire engagement ring, which was a copy of Princess Diana's engagement ring.
'But all my dreams are shattered. I hate her guts now, she is a dreadful woman and she has left me in pieces.'
In an unrelated incident the property developer and Francine were tied up by two masked men in October 2009 in a shotgun robbery on their home. The robbers made off with 50,000 worth of jewellery.
Investigation: Forensic officers outside Morris, Goddard and Ward in Devizes, Wiltshire where the man was shot yesterday
Speaking after the ordeal Mr Chudleigh said: 'They burst into our kitchen pointing a shotgun at us and made us lie on the floor.
'We were bound head and foot and they threatened to kill me if I did not tell them where the money was.
'It was pretty horrendous. Mrs Whale has gone to pieces and she wants to barricade the door every night.'
The property developer and Francine were tied up by two masked men in October 2009 - when they stormed his home with a shotgun and stole 50,000 worth of jewellery
It is thought Mr Chudleigh was evicted and the property repossessed by the mortgage company in April
Today, Mr Ward was described by neighbours as a 'lovely man' who 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.
A neighbour at Mr Ward's large red-brick farm house in Westbury, Wilts., who did not want to be named, said the solicitor would do anything for anybody.
He said: 'He is just such a lovely man. The whole family is lovely. It is such a shock this has happened - he wouldn't hurt a fly.
'It's the type of thing you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy - I can't think of why anybody would have done this.
Wealthy: Mr Chudleigh, who runs Kingfisher Builders, is listed as living at the sprawling converted farm house with former business partner Francine Whale
'We have all been praying for him at the local village church and we hope that he gets better - you have to have faith.'
Morris, Goddard and Ward was set up in 1988, specialising in matrimonial and family law, personal injury, general legal claims and residential conveyancing.
James Ward is listed as the principal solicitor at the practice. His partner Nicola Morris is listed as consultant solicitor.
The neighbour said Mr Ward had three children - all of whom had grown up and left school
A window on the first floor of the building, which houses another legal firm, was smashed in the shooting.
The community had been left 'understandably shocked by the events and we appreciate their co-operation', a police spokeswoman said.
A number of roads around the Market Place in Devizes were cordoned off by police, who said they would remain closed while its major crime investigation team examined the scene
Simon Fisher, deputy town clerk at Devizes Town Council, said: ‘Some of us heard a bang. It sounded like a car backfiring or a car bumping into another car.
‘One of our staff saw a male being carried out on a stretcher.'
Mr Chudleigh had a nine year affair with married blonde Rachel Leigh, right, and admitted to romping in woods behind her house while her husband David was at work
A police spokesman said: ‘A male walked into the offices of Morris, Goddard and Ward, armed with a weapon, and shot a male.
‘The offender drove off in a car but was arrested at approximately 3.35pm without a struggle by armed officers in Rowde.
‘He is now in custody at Melksham Police Station. We recovered a weapon which we believe was used in the incident.
Crime scene: A police cordon surrounds the solicitor's firm in Devizes, Wiltshire, where James Ward was shot in the head
Officers at work inside the building where the victim was shot at his desk with stray bullets hitting the windows
Great Western Ambulance Service was at the scene six minutes after the 999 call.
A spokesman said: 'We received a 999 call at 2.58pm reporting a man had been injured in an incident involving a firearm in office premises in St John's Street, Devizes.
'A paramedic in a rapid-response vehicle was on scene at 3.04pm, backed up by other resources, including ambulance crew, doctor, air ambulance and duty officers to liaise with other emergency services.
'The patient sustained serious, life-threatening injuries.'
The crime scene on St John's street in the quiet market town of Devizes
The centre of the town was closed as firearms officers and an ambulance raced to the scene. Locals described hearing a loud bang - sounding like a car backfiring.
Colin Garrett, manager of Edwin Giddings, in St John’s Street, said: ’It’s a bit of a shock - it’s not the sort of thing you would expect here. Details are sketchy but apparently someone walked in with a shotgun and he discharged it.
‘I’m not sure if he was the intended target or if they were trying to diffuse the situation. Unfortunately solicitors deal with stressful situations which they are trying to sort out. I believe the man was known to them because he was arrested quickly.
‘The police are not allowing anyone near the scene as they are gathering evidence. Apparently the ambulance taking the injured person was given a police escort.’
Claire Perry, Conservative MP for Devizes, wrote on Twitter of her shock at the shooting.
'All thoughts and prayers with the victim of the tragic shooting today in Devizes, and his family,' she said last night.
'What an awful, shocking thing to happen.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Saints' coach Payton, wife file divorce petitions - YAHOO!
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and his wife of nearly 20 years have filed dueling divorce petitions in Texas.
Payton filed a petition in Tarrant County district court seeking a divorce from Beth Payton on June 14. It lists the grounds as ''discord or conflict of personalities'' and seeks to divide the couple's assets and provide for joint custody of their two children.
Beth Payton filed a counter petition on June 26 requesting that she receive primary custody of the children and exclusive rights to make other decisions, such as those concerning their medical care and education, on their behalf. It also asks that the coach pay child support and pay for the children's medical care.
The breakdown of the Paytons' marriage comes during an already difficult year for the embattled coach, who has been suspended for the entire 2012 season in connection with an NFL investigation that concluded the Saints had a bounty system for the past three seasons that paid defensive players improper cash bonuses for injury-casing hits to targeted opponents.
The divorce papers were filed in Texas because the couple moved to an exclusive neighborhood in the Fort Worth suburb of Westlake in 2011. Payton has said since his suspension that he hopes to spend as much time as possible with his children and even coach his son Connor's football team.
It is not clear how the divorce may affect the coach's plans, but the papers indicate that he has already moved out of the couple's primary residence.
Sean Payton could not be reached for comment and his attorney, Gary Nickelson, did not return a call to his office. Beth Payton's attorney, Heather King, declined comment.
The Paytons' move from suburban New Orleans to Texas was initially met with angst by Saints fans who were concerned that the most successful coach in club history, who joined the Saints in 2006 and won a Super Bowl in his fourth season, was no longer as personally invested in the community as he had been during his first five years there.
However, the coach, who was an assistant in Dallas for three years before coming to New Orleans, stated that he and his wife had long aspired to live in the neighborhood to which they moved, and to enroll their daughter Megan, 15, and Connor, 12, in an elite private school there.
Payton commuted regularly between Dallas and New Orleans during the 2011 season. The travel did not appear to interfere significantly with his work. The Saints won the NFC South Division with a 13-3 record and set numerous club and NFL records with the offense that Payton designed.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
R Kelly: 'The Notebook inspired me to divorce my wife' - Digital Spy
Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk
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