THE family of Loraine Whiting, the mother who bled to death after being gunned down by her estranged husband, hope there may be a positive outcome to their dispute over legal costs surrounding her case.

After a meeting with Kent Police Authority on Wednesday South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon said he hoped that legal action by Kent Police against Mrs Whiting’s daughter Catherine Elvin to put a charge on her Norfolk home could be resolved.

Mrs Elvin, of Winfarthing, Norfolk, had tried to sue the Kent police after Mrs Whiting bled to death at her home in Ruins Barn Road, Sittingbourne, following the shooting incident.

Mrs Whiting’s estranged husband Leonard Carter shot her in the legs before he shot himself dead. But Kent police refused to allow paramedics to enter the premises, fearing the gunman was still alive, and after a 61 minute phone call to emergency services pleading for help, Mrs Whiting bled to death.

Kent police have sought to recover their £92,000 legal costs from Mrs Elvin and recently placed a charge on the family home in Winfarthing. The case was due to be heard at Central London County Court next Tuesday (20 September), but has now been postponed.

After Mr Bacon and the Elvin family met on Wednesday with the chairman of Kent Police Authority, Ann Barnes JP, at the authority’s offices in Maidstone, Mr Bacon said:

“I am most grateful to Mrs Barnes for agreeing to meet with the family and me. Mrs Barnes was very sympathetic and she certainly understood the distress which has been caused to the Elvin family. The meeting was held in a highly constructive atmosphere.”

“As a result of the meeting I believe there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Although I cannot discuss details, there is now a reasonable solution available which is fair to both the police and to the family, who would be able to keep their home”.

“Mrs Barnes will make a formal recommendation to the next full meeting of Kent Police Authority in two weeks’ time, and if the authority accepts her recommendation, then the family will be able to move on and this dreadful chapter can be closed.

“In the meantime, Mrs Barnes has most helpfully offered to place a stay on the court proceedings which were due to have taken place next Tuesday.”