Mother and girl killed by single gunshots to head

Andy Copland shot Julie Harrison, 40, and their daughter, Maisie, at his home in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Tuesday. He is then thought to have turned the gun on himself.

Copland and Maisie died at the scene while Ms Harrison was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting, South London, where she died on Wednesday morning.

Hampshire Police spokeswoman Lucy Dibdin said post-mortem examinations on the three bodies showed they had all died from single gunshot wounds to the head.

It appears the shootings took place as Maisie was dropped off for a visit to her father.

Police called to the property were met with a "very traumatic" scene.

Officers attempted to resuscitate Maisie but she was soon pronounced dead.

Police said painter and decorator Copland had previous convictions from 23 years ago for harassing his former wife, Christine, threatening her with a crossbow and setting her car alight. He was then jailed for two years.

Officers are working with Copland's daughter, Keely Copland, 33, a Surrey Police officer, with the aim of piecing together his full history.

Officers have denied reports that there had been a history of abuse and violence against Miss Harrison and said Copland was not known to them.

Copland used to drink at the Thatched Cottage pub in Farnborough, Hampshire, where locals nicknamed him "Ghost" because he did not talk very much.

A file into the deaths is to be passed to the coroner and an inquest into the three deaths is to be opened and adjourned on Monday.

North East Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said: "It's unbelievably sad."

Miss Harrison's father, Reginald Harrison, said his daughter was a "happy-go-lucky, bubbly girl" and he also paid tribute to his "beautiful granddaughter".

He said Maisie was a "confident, happy, chatty, active, animated, bright young girl who brought joy to our lives".

A tribute page has also been set up on Facebook.