Dutch pensioner accused of gunning down English girl, 11, after long-running land dispute 'was high on cannabis and not aiming at her'
Dirk Raats is charged with murdering Solaine Thornton, who was killed after being shot in the heart during a family barbecue in their garden in the village of Saint-Herbot in Brittany.
Solaine had been playing on the swings with her eight-year-old sister Celeste, who managed to escape unscathed and get help. Appearing in court in Brest on Monday evening, Raats said: "It's so horrible what happened – I don't understand it."Prosecutor Camille Miansoni said: "It appears that he clearly aimed at the father, that he aimed at his wife, but however he seems less clear as to a possible admission that he aimed at the girl."Mrs Thornton had previously said they were threatened by a gun-wielding neighbour years prior when her family cut a hedge down.
Their home is based in a large plot. Mr Thornton works as a mechanic while Mrs Thornton is in social services.Mr Thornton had been working on tidying and clearing the land, which was said to have otherwise been abandoned and was wild.
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