Murdered couple 'horrifically beaten'

A husband and wife murdered at their isolated home were horrifically beaten before being shot several times, British police said today.

Post mortem examination results on Carole and Graham Fisher discovered that the couple had undergone a prolonged ordeal before they were gunned down.

They were murdered at close range at the bungalow and petrol station they owned in Cornwall on Bonfire Night.

A bus driver returning from the school run found Mrs Fisher’s body outside the Perch Garage petrol station at around 9am on Thursday. Police found her 60-year-old husband shot dead inside the bungalow.

Det Supt Stuart Newberry, who is leading the hunt for the killers, said: “Both died of mass injuries. It’s believed that a shotgun was used and they were shot a number of times. They had both also sustained a serious physical assault during the the ordeal.”

“The Fishers were a private couple with a small circle of friends. Mr Fisher had a number of business interests,” he said “The search continues within the bungalow for evidence.”

Det Supt Newberry refused to say how many times the couple had been shot or the type of physical attack they suffered before their deaths.

A Devon and Cornwall police spokeswoman said the response from the public for help to find the killers had been excellent.

She said that a number of people saw a hitch hiker on the A39 at the junction with the Tesco store heading in the direction of the Fishers’ garage between 6.30 and 7.30 on the night of the killing.

He was described as white, aged about 30, and not dressed for the weather because it was raining. Detectives are keen to speak to the man.

Other people saw a variety of cars on the Fishers’ garage forecourt during the Wednesday evening and detectives appealed for anyone who stopped there to come forward.

Earlier detectives said it was likely that 53-year-old Mrs Fisher was “running for her life” when she was killed.

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said that scene of crime officers and a ballistics expert were still at the house trying to figure out what happened to the couple.

Detectives still do not know what the motive was for the killings but several neighbours have said the couple kept a large amount of cash in their home. Police are trying to find out what, if anything, has been taken from the bungalow.

The Fishers were last seen alive by a couple who had a business meeting with them at the Perch Garage petrol station which ended at around 6.40pm on Bonfire Night.

It appears the couple were about to eat an evening meal when they were killed.

The Fishers have owned the Perch Garage fuel station and car repair centre for around 20 years.

They are described by neighbours as an “introverted” couple who “kept themselves to themselves.”

Officers are still searching the premises for weapons owned by Mr Fisher, who was a firearms holder.

Police are appealing for anyone who was at the garage on Bonfire Night to come forward. A team of around 60 officers is working on the case.