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INJURED ATHLETES BENEFIT FROM TREATMENT TRIED ON HORSES
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Police shooting stuns village Local man on bail after burglary murder is killed in Goudhurst gun incident By Adam Hignett
adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk RESIDENTS of Goudhurst were yesterday coming to terms with a police shooting that left one man dead. He was named locally as 36-year-old William Smith, who was on bail in connection with the death of a Benenden man during a break-in at his home. Roy Blackman was bludgeoned to death on March 21 at his house on Headcorn Road during a violent burglary in which his safe and an air rifle were stolen. Six people were arrested in connection with the incident, including Mr Smith, who is believed to have been on bail at the time of the shooting, which occurred at 8.30pm on Sunday at a travellers’ site in Smith Lane.
AT THE SCENE Officers in Goudhurst. Inset: William Smith One local resident, who lives near where the incident took place, described on social media hearing the shots. Ashley Wilson said: “I heard this happening – although I didn’t know what it was at the time. I said it sounded like
gunshots, then just after, lots of raised voices as I put the chickens away. “Now we’ve got police and news crews all over the Smiths/Lidwells junction.” Others described hearing police helicopters overhead and being pulled over by police while driving near the site dur-
ing the hours following the incident, which was near the centre of the village. Mr Smith was known to occasionally frequent the Weeks Bakery and Tea Rooms in the centre of the village, where one regular, who did not want to be named, said: “I did not talk to him much, but he seemed OK. “It is a very sad incident really and people around the village are asking questions about it as they want to know the answers themselves. “It is very rare that anything like this would happen here, which is why it is so shocking as people do not expect it. “It’s better known for being a place where people come on holiday and for a quiet walk.” Half a mile from the entrance to Smith Lane, Lou and Caroline Lizzi run the Green Cross Inn.
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New cinema site owners pledge to make town proud
THE DIRECTORS (L to R) Gary Taylor, Nigel Robson and Stephen Tillman
THESE are the three directors behind Altitude UK – the privately owned company that last week bought the old cinema site in Tunbridge Wells. Gary Taylor, Nigel Robson and Stephen Tillman have pledged to replace the eyesore with a development that includes shops and restaurants, as well as possibly a small cinema, which they claim will make the town proud. The land has been standing vacant for nearly 16 years. It had been owned by four other
companies that each promised to develop the site. MP Greg Clark said: “The new owners just need to get on with it – our patience has well and truly run out.” Borough Council Leader David Jukes said: “I’ll believe it when I look out of my office window from the Town Hall opposite the site and see them start digging.” This week the directors spoke to the Times about their plans in order to head off the sceptics.
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Wednesday, May 4, 2016
LEGAL BRIEFING FOR RESIDENTS IN TARGETFOLLOW LAND TAX ROW Page 7
INSIDE REFUND REFUSED
No compensation for victim as he didn’t arrive at destination
PAGE 2
WILKO LOCATION
Poundland rival is due to open its doors in the shopping centre
PAGE 2
CAMPUS CLOSES
Job losses feared as college plans move from North Farm
PAGE 3
BADMINTON-BOUND
Mayfield’s star eventing team is heading for its ‘FA Cup final’
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