Turkey killings: What kind of man could have done this?

Catherine Anne Bury, who was known as Anne, died when she was gunned down on Monday morning, and her son Alex and mother Cecilia, who is in her 80s, were injured.

Today her family released a statement that said: “We would like to thank everyone for their warm wishes and condolences at this very sad time.

“Although our family are still deeply shocked and grieving for Anne, we are pleased to say that both Anne’s mother and son are recovering from their injuries and have both been given wonderful care, treatment and support by hospital and consulate staff and many other local people.

“It appears that the person that Anne employed as a general gardener/handyman, to look after her holiday villas, has committed this terrible crime. We cannot comprehend the mentality of somebody who would do this to three lovely people who would never harm anybody.

“We would like once again to thank everyone for their kindness and offers of help - they are a great source of strength to us. We are sure that you will understand that we would now like peace and privacy at this time so that we can get on with everything we need to do.”

Earlier, Alex Bury described how he pleaded with the gunman to stop the attack, trying to reason with him before he opened fire on Ms Bury, 56.

Speaking from his bed in Mugla University Hospital, Mr Bury, 24, told the Times he recognised the gunman as Veli Acar, their gardener, who was said to have been in a relationship with Ms Bury.

Acar had apparently threatened the family earlier that weekend but was later released by police and returned, armed, to the Bury villa in the resort of Dalyan at around 5am on Monday.

Mr Bury, who has a leg injury, said: “I tried to reason with him. I told him it didn’t have to be this way.

“He lifted the gun to his shoulder and gestured for me to go through to my mother and grandmother’s room.

“They had heard me talking and had locked themselves in the room.”

Acar then gunned down Ms Bury as she cowered in the villa’s bathroom, it was reported.

The Turkish ministry of culture and tourism confirmed the death of Ms Bury, who lived in the North Yorkshire village of Swainby, and said her son remained in hospital. Ms Bury’s mother, who is in her 80s, has been discharged after treatment.

Acar is said to have given himself up after the shooting and is due in court.

The ministry statement said: “The death of British citizen (Catherine) Anne Bury, and the wounding by shooting of her son, Alexander Gerard Bury, and mother, Cecilia Bury, in Turkey’s south-western town of Dalyan is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities.

“The chief suspect has been arrested and is currently under custody, while a full investigation is under way.”

News of the shooting shocked neighbours in Ms Bury’s village, who said the family were lovely people who never got in trouble.

People living in Swainby said Ms Bury’s son lived with her, and that her mother is from Middlesbrough.

Stephen Garbutt, 72, who lives in the adjoining bungalow to the dead woman, said: “I never, ever heard a bad word or a cross word or anything like that from any of them.

“How on earth they got into this situation, I cannot imagine.

“I have never known Anne, for want of a better word, in trouble.”

Mr Garbutt said his neighbour, who trained as a midwife, had been working for an oil company in Dubai in a health role.

Her son worked at a local hotel, the Cleveland Tontine, after taking a year out of university but was hoping to restart his studies in medicine.

Cecilia Bury was “a real lady”, Mr Garbutt added.

Ms Bury’s black 4x4 was parked outside her bungalow, which is set back from the street, tucked behind a former blacksmith’s.

The owners of the Cleveland Tontine paid tribute to Mr Bury, saying that during his time there he was “a delightful young man” and “a joy to work with”.

A statement from the hotel said: “Everyone at the Cleveland Tontine is extremely shocked and saddened to hear the dreadful news about Alex Bury and his family.

“Alex worked at the Cleveland Tontine up until last year as a waiter, over a period of five years. He is a delightful young man, a joy to work with and much loved by customers and colleagues alike.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to all the family and our hopes for a full and speedy recovery to Alex.”