John Walker Turnbull

Background

John Walker Turnbull (May 18, 1958 – September 27, 1999) was a Lance Corporal in the British 4th Royal Tank Regiment. He was the husband of the late Marion Jane Turnbull and the father of Aaron John Turnbull. He was born in Durham, England, to British parents Jack and Jenny Turnbull. In his early teens, he was an apprentice welder alongside his father.

In his late teen years, Turnbull joined the British Army and served for nine years. He left the British Army after his posting in Osnabrück, moving back to Kent with his wife and son. There, he worked as a heavy goods vehicle driver.

In 1996, Turnbull was involved in a severe road accident. A large truck attempting to avoid hitting an animal in the road collided with Turnbull’s vehicle. He barely survived the impact. A passing road user pulled him from under the truck, with the truck resting on top of his vehicle. After a period in hospital and surgery in which titanium plates were attached to fractured and broken bones, he underwent physiotherapy to regain partial use of a wrist, arm, leg and ankle that were badly damaged. Further surgery was performed in which the original plates were removed and replaced with permanent ones.

During this time, Turnbull became an avid supporter of the “Shooters Rights Campaign,” which sought to prevent the British ban on handguns, which eventually took effect in 1997 after the 1996.

Other details

Turnbull became the head of security at Valence School for disabled children in 1998. He worked there until September 20, 1999. It was known that he left his job after discovering a love affair between his wife and a Mr. David Battle.

The offence

On September 26, 1999, Turnbull arranged to meet with both his wife and Mr. David Battle in the family home in Kemsing. He killed both Mrs. Turnbull and Mr. Battle with a shotgun.

At the time, Turnbull’s son was staying with his grandparents.

Outcome

Turnbull later died September 27, 1999 from a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head on a hill near his home in Durham.