Edward Smith, also known as Edvard Stockings, tracked down 43-year-old Lisa Smith in Knockholt, Kent, after discovering she planned to leave him. He fatally shot her before taking his own life later that evening, Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court was told.
Lisa Smith had earlier informed her sister she was ending the marriage and travelled from Slough, Berkshire, to Kent to stay with family. She was picked up at Orpington station by her sister and friends before they went to the Horseshoe Pub.
Just before 7 p.m., Edward Smith arrived at the pub car park after repeatedly calling her and her companions. A brief verbal confrontation with Lisa’s sister occurred inside the pub before he returned to his vehicle. Moments later, he blocked in the car Lisa was sitting in and opened fire with a handgun.
According to Detective Sergeant James Dolby, Smith fired the first two shots from inside his own car. He then pulled forward, stepped out with his arms outstretched, and fired through the driver’s side window. A third shot caused fatal injuries to Lisa Smith’s neck, and he fired again at close range from the passenger side.
Despite immediate CPR by bystanders and emergency services, Lisa Smith was pronounced dead at 7:42 p.m.
Following the shooting, Smith sent voice notes to someone he addressed as “Nana,” admitting, “I’ve shot Lisa, she’s dead,” and adding, “hopefully I’m going to get into heaven with my wife.” He later jumped to his death from the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Dartford.
On Wednesday, September 17, Area Coroner Katrina Hepburn ruled Lisa Smith’s death as an unlawful killing, concluding that Edward Smith intended to kill or cause her serious harm.
“There was intent to find Lisa Smith after she had left her home address and once she was found the car she was seated in was blocked preventing any exit,” the coroner stated.