Policeman who shot his mother-in-law dead had already broken his bail conditions

A police inspector who shot his mother-in-law dead while on remand for killing his wife had already breached his bail conditions, it was revealed last night.

Gary Weddell, 47, who had been charged with murdering Sandra Weddell, his wife of 21 years, killed 70-year-old Traute Maxfield, who was due to testify against him before apparently committing suicide.

But The Mail on Sunday has found that Weddell had been taken back to court in November, just two months after being granted bail, because he was seen acting suspiciously in a pub car park near the family home.

Yet concerns by the Crown Prosecution Service were ignored and Weddell was again freed to await his trial – with terrible consequences.

It has also been disclosed that the father of three was photographed with a mystery brunette, adding fuel to rumours he was having an affair around the time of his wife's death.

The case has already prompted calls for an inquiry into how a murder suspect was freed from custody – despite the warnings of colleagues and prosecutors.

Sandra Weddell, 44, a nurse and devout Christian, was found dead in the garage of the family home in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, a year ago.

A cable tie was knotted around her neck and her death was initially treated as a suspected suicide.

However, a post-mortem revealed her injuries were not self-inflicted and tests on a suicide note suggested she had not written it.

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Five months later, Weddell, a Metropolitan Police inspector based in Barnet, North London, was charged with her murder.

Although he was initially remanded in custody, in September Judge John Bevan controversially granted him bail with a £200,000 surety put up by Weddell's barrister brother, Geoffrey.

Under the conditions of his bail, Weddell was to surrender his gun licence, live with his brother in Woking, Surrey, and stay away from Bedfordshire. He was also to report to police twice a week.

However, Janet Walker, landlady of The Pack Horse on the A5 at Kensworth, Bedfordshire, rang police after noticing a man acting strangely and taking photographs of CCTV cameras at the back of her pub.

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The man, who was seen meeting an elderly woman and a mystery brunette, was recognised as Weddell, and he was arrested three days later.

Despite Weddell admitting breaching the conditions of his bail, the bench, chaired by senior magistrate Ian Sampson, freed him.

Last Saturday, Weddell drove to Mrs Maxfield's home in Gustard Wood, Hertfordshire, and shot her.

She had been living alone since the death of her second husband, William, last year at the age of 92.

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Weddell's body was found in woodland at a shooting club nearby, where it is believed he took his own life.

Asked why he had released Weddell, Mr Sampson, 66, declined to comment, as did Martin Dunsford, head of legal services for Woking magistrates.

A spokesman for the CPS said: "We opposed bail in Mr Weddell's case from the outset."