pigeon fancier jailed for murder

[Guest coxy]

FAMILY'S FURY AT SHOTGUN KILLER

 

ALISON BARBUTI

 

15:00 - 17 August 2006

 

The grieving family of a woman gunned down by her neighbour after a long running feud have condemned her 'brutal and callous' killer. Relatives of Susan Rondel said they are unable to comprehend what had driven Michael Stockton to carry out the killing.

 

They spoke out after pigeon-fancier Stockton was jailed yesterday for eight years for the manslaughter of cat-loving Mrs Rondel.

 

Stockton, aged 44, of Vernon Avenue, Audley, was cleared by a jury of murdering his neighbour in her home shortly after midnight on December 27 last year. He will be able to apply for parole in five years.

 

The father-of-two shot the 48-year-old through the chest as she stood defenceless in her nightclothes at the bottom of the stairs of her home in Vernon Close.

 

She died instantly from the single shot wound which disintegrated her heart.

 

A statement from the family of Mrs Rondel - who had two sons Philip and Dean - said that they were still trying to come to terms with their loss.

 

It said: "Susan was a unique character, full of life, energy and love for all of her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and sister and her premature death has left a void in our lives.

 

"We are unable to comprehend the reasons that drove Michael Stockton to take away Susan's life in such a brutal and callous manner.

 

"Whatever punishment Michael Stockton receives will not bring Susan back nor ease our grief. His actions in the early hours of December 27 have devastated not only our family but his as well. We would like to take this opportunity to thank friends and family for their support during this traumatic time."

 

Judge John Saunders told Stockton at the end of the week long trial: "You took the life of Susan Rondel in the most violent possible way.

 

"Whatever may or may not have happened between the two of you in the past, nothing justified what you did. As a result of what you did, two sons have lost a parent for ever.

 

"The jury accepted what happened in the past, coupled with the argument you had with Gayle Bagguley (Stockton's partner) that night, may have amounted to provocation."

 

The court had heard how Mrs Rondel had accused Stockton of poisoning her pets and threatening to kill her dogs - accusations he denied - while he believed she was behind his pigeon loft burning down on June 29 last year. Two men are currently awaiting trial for arson in relation to the matter.

 

A neighbour of Susan Rondel said: "How can it be manslaughter by provocation when she didn't even burn his pigeon loft down? He is supposed to have shot the light and the door. He must have known what he was doing. I'm just shocked. He could be out in about five years from now. I'd hate to think what reception he'd get if he came back to live here in five years."

 

Another neighbour who knew Michael Stockton said: "He's not a bad lad. He would help anyone. His pigeons were his world and when they were set fire to I think that did him."

 

Meanwhile, community leaders have extended their sympathy to the families involved.

 

Councillor John Cornes, of Audley Parish Council, said: "In a village like this there is a strong community feeling and we feel sympathy and sorrow for the families involved."

 

[Guest speckled]

Read that today Coxy in the "Sun " well  sure there be a few fanciers  out there that will have ther say about the situation, but me personally, should not have got to that point> :o Others will have a diffrent opion but we will wait & see  :-/ :-/ Speck

[Ron]

He loaded the gun, he aimed it and he pulled the trigger, he's a murderer. He should be deal with appropriately

[Guest]

I didn't think you were allowed to keep guns in the UK

[Guest Paulo]

Your allowed shotguns Hyacinth my dad has a few that he inherited from his dad. You need a shotgun license for them. Rifles are allowed under a firearms license that is hard to obtain. Handguns and automatic rifles are banned since Hungerford and Dunblane. You also have safety inspections etc carried out before renewal a plod comes round and has a chat checks your guns match whats on your certificate and checks your security. We had to upgrade our locks last year because standards had increased.

 

Murder is murder plain and simple but you can be provoked even through there is no excuse for what he has done.

 

Still you have to feel sorry for the families of both people involved their lifes will be totally ruined.

 

[Wiley]

you do the crime, got to pay the time!

[Roland]

Can't pay the price ... don't roll the dice...

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

y did he kill her?????

[Wiley]

he thought she burnt down his pigeon shed,cos she thought he was poisioning her cats

[storm rollers]

he should be locked up for life left two sons without a mum not good

[Guest]

Thanks Paulo, I knew something like that was in place, but thought you couldn't keep a shot gun unless you were a game keeper, farmer etc.

 

It's totally different in the States, Steve had a big arsenal when I arrived and he taught me to use them all.  Where we live now it is illegal to discharge a firearm, partly due to it being so dry and the risk of fires and we have a population of protected Mule Deer and it is a punishable offence to shoot one.  I'm very pleased to say that the only gun we have now is an air rifle kept for emergencies round the loft.

[THE FIFER]

DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT HE DID, BUT IT'S ABOUT TIME THER WAS SOME KIND OF LAW BROUGHT OUT REGARDING CATS, MY NEIGHBOUR HAS ONE AND IT IS ALWAYS AT OUR BEDROOM WINDOW AT NIGHTS TRYING TO GET IN, WE HAVE TO SLEEP WITH OUR WINDOW CLOSED, AND ITS UPSTAIRS, COMES ON THE BALCONY. I HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT IT BUT HE JUST SAYS SORRY AND THATS CATS FOR U, I HAVE THE WATER CAT REPELENT WHICH FIRES WATER AT THEM BUT COULD'NT PUT IT THERE FOR THE POSTMAN ETC THEY WOULD GET SOAKED, BUT I WILL GET SOMETHING, U MUST BE VERY CAREFULE WHEN COMPLAINING ABOUT CATS AS IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THEM UR ALWAYS TO BLAME, BUT IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DAMAGE PEOPLES PROPERTY ETC.

[Keepsmilingqueen]

Murder is murder in my oppinion, he could have found a better way to express his feelings than that, its never the answer to kill another human being !!

 

and his actions can only have a negative effect on the sport

 

sharron  

 

my thoughts are with the poor womans family

[Guest Paulo]

Yeah Fifer your right if a dog did what cats do there would be hell on and the dog would be destroyed. If you own any sort of animal you should be a resposnbile owner and keep it under control

[Guest]

Now don't get me going on Cats, can't abide the little buggers, can't even do with one near me

[Roland]

 

Well for starters, cats DO NOT have the right to roam, let alone a licence, that is a myth! Nor do they have the right to crap between your runner beans, let alone in your garden. These are basic facts. Also any damage of loss of a bird is redeemable against the cat owner. Another little fact!

Prevention is better though than Cure though I believe, so get an electric fence. They are legal!

Also now one can buy one that costs less than £70 and will surround the whole garden. And they can run off a 9 Volt Battery. Place the wire just high enough for a creeping cat to crawl under. They always raise their tails... ping they pee off big time. Once is normally enough. Twice is seldom, for they leave a wide birth after the first little jolt. They then place a nose to it perhaps. Then they will smell a electric fence yonks away... they seldom if ever come back once they have had a little pang.

I have a three prong wired one that runs of a car battery, or a battery charger. Yes I told my neighbours… seems now nigh every one is getting a £70 one!

Most Garden centres or Farm Supplies carry them.

[THE FIFER]

ROLAND THE CAT IS NOT TROUBLING MY BIRDS OR GARDENS I HAVE A WATER GUN WHICH KEEPS THEM AWAY, IT'S JUMPING FROM THERE BALCONY TO MINE AND COMING IN THE BEDROOM WINDOW THROUGH THE NIGHT, I HAVE A BORDER COLLIE WHICH COULD SORT IT OUT BUT WHAT A MESS IT WOULD LEAVE THE ROOM, AND THEY MAKE THE PLACE STINK

[T_T]

Fifer,

       Like you, I am plagued with the things and coming into the house. I think my Cat repellor has given up.  I am now going to get an electric fence installed.

[THE FIFER]

THE WATER GUN (SCARE CROW) FROM BODDY AND RIDEWOOD DEFINATELY WORK, FIXED TO UR GARDEN HOSE THEY SOAK THEM, THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THEY SOAK ANYTHING WHICH SETS THEM OFF, U HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET BEHIND IT TO SHUT IT OFF, NO CATS IN MY BACK GARDEN, BUT U CANNOT SET IT IN FRONT AS POSTMAN OR ANY CALLERS WOULD GET SOAKED BUT THEU ARE 100%,

[Guest CS]

The fifer, how much did you pay for the water guy?

[Guest]

I would love to put an electric fence round my place to keep the scabby moggies out, but shudder at the thought of the cost as we have 2 acres

[paul l]

do the crime u do the time tuff

[Roland]

Electic fence pence a year to run... Cats / Dogs mobile back sides that need taending to, feeding and some one else if not put into a boarding home - great costs again - when away; besides other things.

Same as Hawks, if disturbed you noy it is coming back for the birds... Have a wire mesh connected to the... Give it a warm welcome.

[Roland]

Cost of wire 250 metres about 35 dollars Hyacinth or upto a third less... then again the more you buy the cost keeps coming down, here that is... Mine is three prong... because I got it from a Game Keeper. Travelers supply even cheaper lol. But it meands peace of mine. Them little 9 Volt Babies work a treat too... will shift a horse even pronto if it walks into it.

[paul l]

he got free bed and breckfast what else dose the bird man want