A GUNMAN who killed a woman and shot her son and mother in Turkey has been sentenced to life in prison.

September 11, 2013: Turkey shooting son tells how he pleaded with gunman to stop

Catherine Bury, known to everyone as Anne, was gunned down by her gardener, who claimed to have been in a relationship with the victim.

Miss Bury, of Swainby, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, who had been celebrating her 56th birthday with a poolside party hours earlier, died after being shot three times on September 9, 2013.

The court heard the Veli Acar carried out the murderous assault in the Turkish resort of Dalyan when he opened fire with a pump-action shotgun.

The Northern Echo: MURDER TRIAL: Veli Acar arriving at the High Criminal Court of Fethiye.
Veli Acar arriving at the High Criminal Court of Fethiye

Her 24-year-old Newcastle University graduate son, Alex, underwent emergency surgery for severed arteries and her 87-year-old mother, Celia, of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, suffered a gunshot wound to her back.

Acar has reportedly being sentenced to life imprisonment in a Turkish court after it heard there was no romantic link between the pair.

A statement issued on behalf of the family reads: "We are relieved that the court case in Turkey has finally reached its conclusion and that justice has been done.

"The facts are that Anne’s murderer, Acar stole into the family villa in the middle of the night while they slept. He shot and killed defenceless Anne in cold blood and left her 87-year-old mother and 25-year-old son for dead.

"Although Anne was not able to give evidence and defend her reputation in person she did leave behind irrefutable documentary evidence which showed that there was no romantic relationship between her and her killer.

"This evidence also showed that shortly before she was killed, Anne had discovered the dishonest and deceitful nature of her killer and that on account of this, she intended to terminate his appointment as her property manager.

"We also know that Anne’s killer was aware of what she intended to do and believe that Anne was killed in order to prevent her from doing so, as this would have revealed to his family and friends the lies he had peddled of a romantic relationship with Anne and the illegitimate source of his new found wealth.

"We remember Anne as a caring, compassionate, considerate and trusting woman who did not deserve to suffer the murderous fate that befell her or the subsequent attempt by her killer to sully her reputation in the vain hope of a achieving a lighter sentence.

"Although justice has been done, nothing can bring back Anne or restore the grievous mental and physical wounds inflicted by this evil man on Anne’s mother, son and wider family which will be with us for the rest of our lives.

The Northern Echo: FUNERAL: Funeral of Turkish murder victim Anne Buryat Middlesbrough Cathedral, Coulby Newham. The coffin being carried from the cathedral.
Funeral of Turkish murder victim Anne Bury at Middlesbrough Cathedral, Coulby Newham. The coffin being carried from the cathedral

"We would like to thank the Mayor and the wonderful people of Dalyan and of Mugla (where Cecilia and Alex received medical treatment).

"Anne fell in love with Turkey and its people and it is such a dreadful shame that the actions of one person now blight all the happy memories we have of spending time there. We are grateful too for the love and support we continue to receive back home in the UK."

At the time of her murder, Miss Bury had been described by her heartbroken family as a “caring, compassionate, considerate and trusting woman” who had previously worked as a midwife at Middlesbrough’s James Cook hospital.

Hundreds turned out to her funeral held at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Coulby Newham, in October 2013.