THE mother of mansion killer Christopher Foster yesterday broke her silence, saying she believed her son killed himself and his family because he could not bear to tell them he was financially ruined.
Edna Foster said she could not condone the actions of her son, who was recorded on his own CCTV carrying a gun and setting fire to his £1.2m luxury home in Shropshire.
Police believe Foster murdered his wife Jill and his 15-year-old daughter Kirst
ie after running into financial problems.
His mother, believed to be 78, yesterday said: "I've lost a dearly loved son, daughter-in-law and beautiful granddaughter. He talked to nobody. We knew nothing about his financial situation and it's come as a tremendous shock.
"So many of his friends have told me that, had they known, they would have helped him however they could.
"They were a very close, loving family unit and I don't think he could face telling them they were going to lose everything, but I am in no way condoning what he's done. It's very hard."
Foster, in a statement issued through West Mercia Police, said Kirstie "absolutely loved" her horses, which her son also killed, and was an excellent rider.
"Kirstie was just a lovely girl," she said. "Kirstie took part in the Berriew Show the weekend before. Her last ever show and she got first place in the championship."
Foster, who has another son, Andrew, concluded her statement by saying: "Life will never be the same without them. We're finding it very difficult to come to terms with."
Friends of Kirstie, meanwhile, have posted a moving video tribute to her on the internet.
The footage, broadcast on YouTube, is a montage of still photographs showing the 15-year-old waterskiing and riding her beloved horses.
In the background, the song 'My Immortal' by the band Evanescence is played.
Messages such as "RIP Kirstie. You're forever in our hearts" and "Our hearts are empty now ure (sic] not there" appear in the film. There are also photographs of Kirstie's horses and four dogs, Jenna, Tika, Suzi and Tess.
Pictures of the teenager's horseriding rosettes, with the message saying she would always be a winner, can also be seen.
Police last week confirmed that Foster, 50, committed suicide after killing Kirstie and his wife Jill and set fire to their home and its outbuildings.
His wife, 49, was shot in the head, while the cause of his daughter's death has yet to be established.
The full article contains 422 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
