Case Book: Brutal murder of a perfect gentleman
MIDLAND businessman Richard Deakin had not long waved goodbye to his young children as they headed off to school and was relaxing at home when his killers struck.
Two masked men burst into his house in Chasetown, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, and shot him dead.
The brutal execution-style murder bore all the hallmarks of a planned hit.
But Mr Deakin’s heartbroken family have been left desperately searching for the reason why the 27-year-old was shot dead at his home.
The balaclava-clad gunmen waited until Megan left their Meadway Street home on July 5 to take the children to school before making their move.
She discovered her husband dead when she returned.
Doctors confirmed his death at the scene.
A post-mortem examination showed he died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Police said witnesses had seen two men fleeing his Chasetown home after he was shot dead.
Police have revealed the pair were seen driving a black Vauxhall Corsa found dumped in Coppy Nook Lane, Burntwood, just minutes from Mr Deakin’s home on Meadway Street.
His heartbroken mother Carol Deakin, told the Birmingham Mail’s sister newspaper the Sunday Mercury: “It’s like something from TV, something from a horror film.”
Beside her, Megan Deakin, widowed by the hitmen, whispered: “They didn’t take one life, they took a whole family’s.”
Carol is now caring for Megan and the couple’s little children Ellie and Jessica at her home in Cheslyn Hay.
And they desperately want those responsible brought to justice.
“It can’t be allowed to become old news,” said Carol.
“People must not forget about it.
“All I keep asking is why, why?
“Everyone tells us what a lovely son, a perfect gentleman, we had.
