Catering equipment recruiter charged with wife’s murder

A senior catering equipment recruiter has been charged with the murder of his wife after she was found shot twice inside their family home.

Peter Hartshorne-Jones, 51, appeared before court yesterday following the death of Silke Hartshorne-Jones at their farmhouse in Barham, Suffolk.

Mr Hartshorne-Jones was a director of Hartshorne Associates, which was set up in 1999 to specialise solely in the catering equipment and foodservice sector.

Traditionally, it operated on a search and selection and headhunting basis, but expanded into agency and contingency recruitment.

It worked on an assignment basis with manufacturers, distributors and design firms, and Mr Hartshorne-Jones is understood to be well-known to many in the industry. He is listed on Companies House as the sole director of the business.

Mr Hartshorne-Jones is also reported to have run another business called Hartshorne Fine English Shotguns, selling sporting weaponry.

Suffolk Police confirmed that officers were called shortly before 4.45am on Sunday 3 May, to reports a woman had been shot.

On arrival at the premises, they discovered Mrs Hartshorne-Jones inside with serious injuries. She was transported to Ipswich Hospital via ambulance in a critical condition, where she sadly died a short time later.

Following the incident, Mr Hartshorne-Jones was arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he was questioned.

He appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court yesterday via video-link, where he spoke only to confirm his name, age, address and to state his nationality.

A trial has been fixed for five days and is due to start on Monday 26 October 2020.