Gun spree killer planned suicide, letters reveal

Police discovered six letters written by Moat which showed he intended to take his own life after his ex-girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart, had told him their relationship was over, the hearing was told.

The former bouncer critically injured Miss Stobbart, 22, killed her new partner Chris Brown, 29, and blinded policeman Pc David Rathband during a shooting spree, after which he warned a police telephone operator: “You are going to kill me because I’m never going to stop.”

Moat, 37, died a week later following a huge manhunt which ended with a six-hour stand-off with police marksmen, including officers from Yorkshire, in July last year.

He had been fired at twice by officers armed with new XREP shotgun-style Tasers during the operation in Rothbury, Northumberland, which involved police from across the country.

The police officer in charge of the inquiry into Moat’s crimes, Superintendent Jim Napier, told the inquest at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday that the gunman’s failed relationship with Miss Stobbart was “the catalyst for his murderous acts”.

An 11-strong inquest jury was played recordings of phone calls between Moat and Miss Stobbart which took place while the gunman was serving an 18-week prison sentence for assaulting a child.

In one call, Miss Stobbart told Moat the relationship was over. Days later, he called back and told her: “I can’t have you out of my life. I’m going to go crazy, man.”

Miss Stoddart then tells Moat that she has met another man, warning that her new lover could knock him out: “To be honest, Raoul, he is a handy... bloke and he is a lot younger than you.”

In one of the suicide notes later found by police, Moat expresses his love for Miss Stobbart and says that he cannot live without her, adding: “Knowing you hate me is tearing me apart.

Another letter, to Moat’s friend and business partner Karl Ness, reads: “Sorry mate, I’m done with it all. Please take the company if you want it. I can’t do this any more.”

Mr Napier said: “They (the letters) appear to have been prepared by Moat and all intimated that he intended to take his own life.”

Shortly before Pc Rathband was shot, Moat called Northumbria Police to say he was hunting for officers and that he had two hostages who would be killed if he was approached.

Mr Napier explained to the jury the hostages were in fact Ness and Qhuram Awan, who have received life sentences for helping Moat.

Moat told the operator: “I’m not on the run, I’m coming to get you.”

Moat crept up on Pc Rathband as he sat in his marked patrol car above the A1 near Newcastle, the inquest heard.

He shot the officer in the face and body. Pc Rathband survived by feigning death but was blinded for life, Mr Napier said.

Moat called police after the shooting, and a recording of the conversation was played to the jury. “Are you taking us serious now?,” Moat said. “I have just downed your officer.”

He finished: “You are going to kill me because I’m never going to stop.”

Newcastle Coroner David Mitford told the jury an inquest was needed because “Mr Moat met his death when he was effectively detained”.

The hearing, which is expected to last five weeks, will focus on the events in Rothbury and will feature questions about weapons used, how police managed the incident, how officers dealt with the deceased and how he acted.

Among the lawyers due to speak at the hearing are barristers for West Yorkshire Police officers who were involved in the operation.

The Moat family, the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police and Pro-Tec Limited, the firm which supplied the Taser weapons used on the night the gunman died, are also represented by counsel.

“The publicity was so great it would be impossible for anybody not to know what happened, to some extent, in the summer of last year,” the coroner said. “You will recall there was a very substantial number of police officers involved, not from just Northumbria, but others included from many, many forces and one of those was West Yorkshire Police.”

The hearing continues.