Fight of mum who watched maniac murder her partner while 5 months pregnant
A pregnant mum who begged for her unborn child's life as a crossbow-wielding maniac murdered her partner says she is one step closer to her fight for tougher laws on the weapons.
Laura Sugden watched in horror as her partner Shane Gilmer laid on their bedroom floor bleeding after evil neighbour Anthony Lawrence shot both of them with the terrifyng weapon. Laura, who had been five months pregnant with their daughter Ella at the time, miraculously survived after being shot in the head in the attack.
But tragically Shane, 30, was unable to survive his injuries and died in hospital shortly after the attack in January 2018. A court later heard how deranged Lawrence had previously threatened Shane with an axe after the couple complained about his loud music, with the 55-year-old evicted over cannabis fume complaints.
Now the brave mum-of-two is lobbying ministers to crack down on crossbows, which - despite having been linked to a number of murders and violent attacks over the years - remain available to buy for as little as £150. While it's illegal to carry one in public without reasonable excuse, Brits only need to be over the age of 18 to buy one.
The couple were excited for the birth of their first child together later that year (Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Laura described Shane as the love of her life (PA)Speaking to The Sun, Laura, 33, said: “It’s ridiculous that anyone can go on to eBay or similar sites and buy a crossbow for about £150 when there’s no actual use for them. You can’t even hunt animals with them anymore, so why would anyone need one?
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
“They are lethal weapons that can cause as much damage, if not more, than a rifle yet you don’t even need a licence to get one.” On the night of the murder, Laura had discovered Lawrence in her then three-year-old daughter Isabelle's bedroom after coming home from a meal out.
Thankfully the youngster was away that night, but the intrusion saw evil Lawrence attack Laura and Shane in their home near Driffield, East Yorkshire. The crossbow bolt had left Shane, a council officer, unable to move with his right forearm pinned to his abdomen, causing fatal injuries.
The homes of suspect Anthony Lawrence, 55, (believed to be house to left) and victim Shane Gilmer, 30 (Tom Maddick SWNS.com)Speaking previously to The Mirror, Laura relived how she had told Lawrence “we’ve got children” as he turned the weapon on them, to which he replied, “blah, blah, f****** blah” and shot her in the head. Shane told her to get help, saying: “If you don’t go and keep you and the baby safe I’ll never forgive you.”
“He was crying,” says Laura. “He was gasping for breath. He looked at me, really looked at me, like the look someone gives you when they are going away for a long time and then told me, ‘Be strong, I love you’.” Those were the last words Shane ever said to Laura.
Terrified Laura managed to flee in order to keep herself and the baby safe. Despite injuries to her head and neck at the time, she managed to unlock the back door and run to a nearby house to seek help.
Shane meanwhile called 999, telling an operator: “Oh my God. I really, really wanted this baby, I really wanted it. I feel like I’m fading. I’ve lost so much blood.” Armed officers stormed the couple's home but found no trace of Lawrence, who had escaped through a hole he'd forged in the wall of their loft.
Laura with her and Shane's daughter Ella Faith (Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)Shane tragically passed away of cardiac arrest brought about by his injuries in hospital, and Laura had to give birth to daughter Ella Faith alone in June of that year and continues to suffer from the psychological impact from her trauma. But despite her ordeal, Laura has channelled her pain into fighting for what she has dubbed 'Shane's Law'.
Earlier this month, ministers launched a ‘call for evidence’ on use of crossbows, seeking input from any interested parties on whether to bring in new licensing and registration laws on the weapons. Laura hopes tougher restrictions will prevent others from going through the pain she has experienced.
Cowardly Lawrence never faced justice for murdering Shane and causing untold pain and anguish to Laura and his other loved ones. After Humberside Police launched a huge manhunt to find the killer, he was eventually discovered dead in a motorhome in the North York Moors two days later.
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