Man shot dead by police was part of murder plot

ARMED police had "no choice" but to shoot a wanted man who had been convicted of conspiracy to murder a Sevenoaks woman, an inquest heard.

Michael Fitzpatrick pulled out a handgun after officers stopped him on the street in February 2011, a Brighton inquest was told this week.

Fitzpatrick, known as Killer Mick, was wanted by police for a string of armed post office robberies.

He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 1999 after admitting conspiracy to murder Diana Goldsmith, of Argyle Road, the partner of millionaire Derek Goldsmith.

Ms Goldsmith – who had not married Mr Goldsmith but lived with him between 1979 and 1991 – took her children, Jennifer, 15, Sarah, 12, and Robert, seven, to school on January 25, 1995.

She was last seen leaving Sevenoaks Preparatory School before disappearing without a trace.

Her decomposed body was found in a garden in Turpington Lane, Bromley, in March 1997, more than two years later.

Mr Goldsmith, who was cleared of all involvement in the murder by Maidstone Crown Court, began his relationship with typist Diana Saywood, who would later take his name by deed poll in the mid-1980s, after she asked him for an advance on her salary.

She later moved in to his home in Downe Avenue, Cudham, along with a child from a former relationship, before buying a house in Crockham Hill.

They went on to have two more children together.

When the relationship broke down, a custody battle ensued and in 1991 she emerged victorious.

She then moved to 22 Argyle Road and formed a relationship with a Sevenoaks district councillor, the late Charlie Hatt.

Fitzpatrick, 49, who admitted his involvement in the murder, is believed to have pulled out a handgun before armed plain-clothed officers fired twice last year. The officers were on their way to arrest him.

The inquest in Brighton was continuing yesterday (Wednesday) as the Chronicle went to press.