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Epsom College headteacher Emma Pattison and her seven-year-old daughter Lettie both died of gunshot wounds, an inquest has heard.

Mrs Pattison died of shock, haemorrhage and shotgun wounds to the chest and abdomen, while Lettie was killed by a shotgun wound to the head, Surrey Coroner's Court was told today (Thursday March 2).

Police believe Emma's husband George Pattison, 39, murdered the pair inside their home on college grounds on the evening of February 5 before turning the gun on himself.

READ MORE: Epsom College 'gunman' suspected of killing wife and daughter had failing wine business

An inquest into George's death, opened earlier this week, confirmed he died of a shotgun wound to the head.

All three family members were found dead inside their Surrey home after Mrs Pattison made a distressed call to her sister.

Gunshots were then heard by a college staff member who called emergency services in early on February 5, hours before police confirmed the deaths.

A firearm legally registered to Mr Pattison was found at the scene.

The boarding school has since confirmed no live ammunition is kept at its firing range.

Coroner Simon Wickens expressed his condolences to those who loved or knew Mrs Pattison and Lettie, whose full name was Ellette Francesca.

After the brief hearing into Mrs Pattison’s death, Mr Wickens said: “I would like to offer my condolences to Emma’s family and friends and also the wider community she served and also to the students whose lives she no doubt touched.”

Following their deaths, Mrs Pattison and Lettie’s loved ones said: “To see the esteem in which Emma is held by all who knew her is an enormous comfort.

“She was everything one could hope for in a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher and so much more. We are an extremely close family and family was at the centre of Emma and Lettie’s universe.

• 

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“The Epsom College community had become part of that universe for them both.

“Seven-year-old Lettie was Emma’s pride and joy: an adorable, vibrant little girl with a compelling curiosity, a heart-melting smile and an intellect beyond her years.

“The two of them were inseparable and we take comfort in that they will remain so.

“Emma had a warm, welcoming smile and sparkling, blue eyes, full of optimism. Over the last 11 days we’ve noticed the sky has been bright blue, with at times a warm glow of pink.”

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