James Nash killing: Gunman 'accused author of Russia Covid-19 plot' bbc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bbc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BBC News
Published
image captionJames Nash was described as a kind-hearted individual and a proactive parish councillor
A man with a long history of mental illness shot a children s author after becoming wrongly convinced he was a Russian spy, an inquest has heard.
James Nash, 42, was attacked in his garden by his next-door neighbour in Upper Enham, Hampshire, on 5 August and died three days later.
The gunman, Alex Sartain, died in a motorbike crash while being pursued by police on the same day.
The coroner recorded a conclusion that Mr Nash was unlawfully killed.
Mr Nash wrote and illustrated children s books, including The Winter Wild.
The dates for the inquests of the men at the heart of a shooting in Upper Enham last year have been revealed. Councillor James Nash was shot on August 5 at his home in the village last year, and died three days later in Southampton General Hospital. The 42-year-old’s inquest will be held on April 19. The man suspected of shooting him, Alex Sartain, subsequently died in a motorbike crash on August 5 while being pursued by police officers. His inquest will be held on April 21. He failed to stop for officers, and subsequently crashed on the A343. He was pronounced dead at the scene.