Holiday tragedy: Maisie Copland, four, with her mother Julie Harrison. Police tried to save the little girl but she died in their arms An embittered father 'executed' his small daughter, shot his estranged girlfriend and then killed himself in a Christmas holiday bloodbath.
Four-year-old Maisie Copland was taken to the home of Andrew Copland by his former lover Julie Harrison, 40, for an access visit yesterday morning.
Minutes after mother and daughter arrived, neighbours heard the screams and shouts of a furious argument, and called police.
Officers forced the door to discover a scene of horror.
They found the man already dead but the child and a woman were still alive. Both had serious head injuries.
The girl was given emergency first aid but died at the scene. The woman was taken to St George's Hospital in London where she remains in a critical condition.
Neighbours said that they were stunned at hearing of the double death.
Forensics officers emerge from the £250,000 house in Aldershot, Hampshire, where the shootings took place Graham Selway, 40, who works in a tool shop across the road, said he believed the couple living at the house had split this Christmas.
He said: 'I saw the woman who has been living at the address pull up in her red Renault Megane Scenic this morning and go into the house.
'I didn't see an altercation on the street and the next thing I knew shortly after 10am the police had arrived.
'A man who I think is called Andy lives at the house and I believe he is in the building trade because he often came into our shop for tools.
'I would say he is in his 40s and has lived at the address for about 15 years or so. He is about 5ft 8in and medium build and has a beard and wears glasses - he looks like your average guy.'
A car, believed to be owned by the father, is lifted away from the house where the murderous attack took placeMaisie was lying on the floor with massive head injuries, on the brink of death.
Three policemen did their best to resuscitate her, but she died in their arms.
Nearby was the body of 56-year-old Copland, a 'volatile' man with a history of domestic violence. He had shot himself in the head following his murderous attack.
The only member of the family to survive the triple shooting in Aldershot, Hampshire, was Miss Harrison, who suffered serious head injuries.
She was taken by air ambulance to St George's Hospital in South London. Last night her condition was critical but stable.
A family friend of Miss Harrison said that painter and decorator Copland and Miss Harrison had been together for around six years, but the relationship was stormy and they split some weeks ago.
Since then Copland had mounted a campaign of harassment against his former partner.
A police officer stands guard outside the house. Neighbours had called 999 shortly after 10am because they were worried about a domestic disputeA neighbour of Miss Harrison's father Reginald, 74, who lives in Camberley, Surrey, said: 'Andy was Maisie's father. But they'd split before Christmas. Julie finally got rid of him.
'He was forever coming to her dad's house and banging on the door and shouting for her.
'Her dad said she had moved to a new house in Aldershot to escape him, but he'd tracked her down and followed her there. He wouldn't allow her any peace.
'I don't know what she was doing in his house. I guess he still had the right to see his daughter.'
He went on: 'The police came and drove Reginald away so he could be at his daughter's hospital bedside. His granddaughter Maisie was a gorgeous, bright little girl. Just lovely.
'She was forever asking to play in our back garden so she could collect eggs from our chickens. She was full of life.
'It's horrible. I don't know how Reg will cope.'
Police tape cordons off the road leading up to the house where the killings occurred. A gun has been recovered from the buildingDetective Inspector Darren Rawlings of Hampshire Police said his colleagues had come upon a 'very traumatic scene' after a neighbour dialled 999 shortly after 10am yesterday.
The three officers got to the house within four minutes of the call, he said, but it was too late.
Detective Inspector Rawlings said the couple had separated around a month ago.
He added: 'This is a tragic death of a four-year-old child. This is a poignant time for many, for young children, and I think it makes it all the more tragic.
'We need to find out why this has happened, and exactly what happened in the premises this morning.
'At this stage the evidence would suggest it was a domestic incident.
'The person in the house has discharged a firearm. We are not seeking anyone else at the moment.'
He would not say what type of gun had been used, whether Copland had a firearms licence, or whether he had a criminal record.
However it was claimed last night that he had a record for arson and making threats against his first wife.
Det Insp Rawlings said the officers responding to the 999 call were unaware shots had been fired, so were unarmed.
Neighbours said they understood the estranged couple had rowed about custody arrangements for Maisie.
A family friend claimed: 'Andy Copland was a very violent and temperamental man.
'I believe he had been jailed for arson and threatening his previous wife.
'I know his daughter from that relationship and she is a lovely woman, a serving police officer, but he was always a nasty piece of work, a loose cannon.
'I remember as a child going round to Copland's house and him exploding with rage at his wife. He was a very volatile man. It is a terrible, terrible tragedy.'
Local tool shop worker Scott Large said Copland popped in regularly for building supplies.
Mr Large said: 'He seemed a friendly, genuine guy who I used to say hello to and he used to be like that with everybody.
'One of the neighbours came up to this morning and said there had been some form of altercation and not to go near, and the next thing I knew police and ambulances and the whole lot turned up.
'I really can't believe it. This is a dozy, quiet sort of place.'
Copland married Christine Curl in 1973. They had a daughter together, Keely, who is now a 33-year-old policewoman in the Surrey force.
The couple divorced in the 1980s, and Mrs Copland remarried.
Miss Harrison had also been married, but was separated.
Sally Denny, 35, whose four year old son Noah was in the same reception class as
Maisie described her as a 'happy, cheeky girl' and said mum Julie would be devastated.
She said: "Maisie was so full of life - a happy, funny and cheeky girl who knew how to bring a smile to people's faces.
"She loved to sing songs by Katy Perry in the car on the way home from school and enjoyed playing kiss chase with Noah. In that way she was a bit of a minx.
"My last memory of her was seeing her perform in the school nativity.
"She was dressed as a star but she will always be an angel.
"I have known Julie two and a half years. She is a lovely reliable friend and a great fulltime mum. She is a quiet and gentle person.
"I am praying she pulls through but know she will be devastated to hear Maisie has died.
"It will be the end of the world for her."
source: dailymail