28 February 2023 , 15:31
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The man believed to have murdered wife Emma Pattison and their daughter Lettie before killing himself, died of a “shotgun wound to the head”, the inquest into his death heard.
George Pattison, 39, was found dead with Emma, 45, and their seven-year-old daughter at their home in the grounds of Epsom College in Surrey on Sunday February 5.
An inquest into his death has now begun at Surrey Coroner's Court, after Surrey Police confirmed earlier this month that a firearm was found at the scene.
The force believed Mr Pattison shot his wife and daughter before killing himself.
A friend described how nothing seemed "unusual" during the couple's supper with friends hours before the bloody rampage in the college ground.
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Emma Pattison and her seven-year-old daughter Lettie (PA)They said the couple gave no sign of being upset during a dinner party they held on the Saturday night.
Moments before the unspeakable tragedy, Emma, 45, is reported to have phoned her sister Deborah Kirk.
It's now understood that Emma's sister rushed to the scene after the distress call.
In a since-deleted student podcast, Ms Pattison spoke of how recent months in her new role had seen big changes for her family.
"In terms of transition it’s been a really big change for my family. We’ve moved house - we’ve bought a dog.
"I’ve got a new job, my husband has got a new job, that wasn’t meant to happen but it did and my daughter has started a new school so there’s been a lot of change for us as a family.”
In May 2016, Mr Pattison called police saying he had been assaulted at their home, claiming his wife had slapped him around the face.
Epsom College head Emma Pattison (PA)He then made a second call asking police not to visit and said he had overreacted - however police did attend and arrested Mrs Pattison on suspicion of common assault.
She was questioned and later released without charge.
Mr Pattison was a chartered accountant who was director of a management consultancy called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House.
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Accounts for the year ending October 2021 show he had taken out a £14,076 director's loan.
Mr Pattison had been in contact with Surrey Police just days before the killings about his gun licence in order to change his address after the family moved to the school site from Caterham.
This short period of time led to the force being referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A statement from Surrey Police read: "A referral by Surrey Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following the deaths of three people at a property within Epsom College has concluded no investigation is required by them."
It continued: "As previously stated, Surrey Police had had prior contact with Mr Pattison on Thursday, 2 February after he notified us of a change of address. This is routine, however, due to the short period of time between that contact and this incident, we made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
"The IOPC have now looked at this referral and stated today that following a thorough assessment, they have “reviewed the recent and past contact Surrey Police had with Mr Pattison regarding his firearms licence and have decided no investigation is required.”
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