Suspect in PC’s murder ‘shot himself’

The man believed to have murdered an off-duty policeman this week was seen shooting himself in a churchyard the following day.

A huge police manhunt for Peter Reeve was launched after Pc Ian Dibell was shot dead in the seaside town of Clacton, Essex on Monday afternoon.

The next day, Reeve, 64, was seen to shoot himself in a churchyard in Writtle, near Chelmsford, about 40 miles away from the murder scene, Essex Coroner’s Office confirmed.

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At an inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court, coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “On July 10, 2012, he (Reeve) was seen alive in the churchyard in Writtle with a gun and was seen to shoot himself.”

The inquest into the deaths of both men was opened and adjourned today.

Opening the inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court, the coroner said: “As the tragic events have unfolded this week in Essex, many people’s lives have been affected.”

Ms Beasley-Murray passed on her condolences to the families of Pc Dibell and Reeve.

She added: “The families can now return to their funeral arrangements and hopefully be left in peace to grieve for their loved ones.”

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