Ex-Firearms Instructor Jailed for Murder in Shocking Garden Shooting
A former City of London firearms instructor, David Hucker, 69, has been jailed for life after fatally shooting 43-year-old Robert Williamson in Dartford, Kent. The chilling incident unfolded in May 2021 and was captured during a frantic 999 call.
Bizarre 999 Call Captures Fatal Shots
On the morning of 11 May, Hucker and Williamson were heard shouting at each other in Hucker’s garden. After Williamson drove away, Hucker threatened to shoot him. Three hours later, Williamson returned to apologise, but their meeting turned violent.
During a desperate 999 call for police help, two gunshots rang out. The call operator heard the shots and then Hucker picked up the phone, coldly telling the operator: “You’d better send a policeman and an ambulance, but I don’t think you’re going to need an ambulance.”
Quick Police Response Finds Victim Dead
Kent Police rushed to the scene and found Williamson dead from gunshot wounds to his chest and neck. Hucker immediately confessed to the murder and was arrested.
Despite possessing firearms legally for years and holding a valid licence, Hucker denied murder charges during the trial at Maidstone Crown Court. However, he was found guilty on 20 December and sentenced to a minimum of 26 years behind bars.
Police Praise Officers and Call Handler for Handling Horrific Scene
“Mr Williamson was needlessly robbed of his life in an act of extreme, pre-meditated and senseless violence,” said Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber, Kent Police’s senior investigator. “I am saddened that Mr Williamson’s loved ones have had to relive these events in court. Our specialist officers have worked hard to support them.” “The call handler and attending officers showed exceptional professionalism and diligence despite the distressing circumstances.”
Hucker now faces decades behind bars for a brutal crime that stunned Dartford and robbed a family of their loved one.
