Police not looking for anyone else

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 1

Police not looking for anyone else

PA Dunedin The police are not seeking anybody else over a triple shooting at Port Chalmers. Thre«- people died because of the incident at Chicks Hotel, early on Saturday morning. They W’ere Mr Gordon Robert Beatson, aged 49, a carrier, of Sawyers Bay, his wife Joan, aged 33 and Mr Peter Chapman, aged 30, a fisherman of Inver-

cargill who was boarding at the hotel. All three died from gunshot wounds to the head. Detectve Inspector R. N. McDonald, of the CIB, said on Saturday that police had gone to the hotel after receiving a telephone call. In a hotel bedroom they found the body of Mrs Beatson and Mr Chapman, who was badly wounded. He died in hospital soon after. They are thought ti have been shot by a man who climbed a fire escape to the bedroom after 4.30 a.m.

At 5 aun. the Armed Offenders Squad was called in and cordoned off the home of Mr Beatson at Sawyers Bay. The police found Mr Beatson in a garage with a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to hospital where he died on Saturday afternoon. A rifle and two cartridges were found by police . on the property. Post-mortem examinations will be made. Mr and Mrs Beatson are survived by two daughters, aged 6 arid 15 years.