A man who shot his partner in the head at their home in Leicestershire claimed to police that her injuries were caused by a pool cue.

Richard Basson was found guilty of murder after shooting Carrie Slater with an automatic pistol in her bedroom on September 21 last year.

In the 999 recording, Basson told the operator: “I stabbed her in the face with the pool cue, but I didn’t mean to stab her, I meant just to warn her, like jab her, and she walked straight into it She kept her head down.”

When asked if he stabbed her in the face, he replied: “I hit her, I hit her right in the middle of the forehead and then it went to her right, my left…”

He later testified he used a “brass pool cue” to injure her.

On arriving at their address, emergency services found Mrs Slater in a bedroom with severe injuries to the front of her head.

While resuscitation efforts were being made, Basson remained outside the bungalow, acting erratically and refusing to cooperate with police.

However, he admitted responsibility for causing her injuries and was initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

On arrival at hospital, scans revealed her injuries were actually gunshot wounds and police found an automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition, two of which had been spent, in their back garden.

Two days later, life support was withdrawn, Mrs Slater was pronounced dead and Basson was charged with murder. He was found guilty following a trial at Leicester Crown Court and will be jailed on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Emma Matts, the senior investigating officer on the case, said: “My condolences and condolences go out to Carrie’s family and loved ones and I know they are still struggling to come to terms with their loss and understand Carrie’s loss. The reason why Li was killed.

“Hopefully today’s results will bring some measure of relief to those closest to her.

“Only Basson knows why he killed a woman he claimed to love. He never explained his actions. He never showed any remorse for killing another human being.”