Canadian kills himself after shooting two dead at Philippines court
- 11 years ago
WARNING - VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
A 66-year-old Canadian man opened fire inside a courtroom in the central Philippine province of Cebu on Tuesday, killing a doctor and a lawyer before killing himself, according to police.
John Pope, a retiree on trial for "malicious mischief and grave threat", pulled out his .35 caliber pistol minutes before the hearing began.
He shot the doctor who filed the case against him, and the doctor's lawyer, then left the courtroom.
While walking towards the lobby of a building opposite the court he shot the state prosecutor handling his case at point-blank range. The prosecutor was being treated in hospital.
Police said they then shot Pope in the arm, but he also shot himself in the head after falling to the floor. He died with gunshot wounds to the temple, arms and thighs.
In May last year Pope was interviewed by local network ABS-CBN, and said the case against him was rigged.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN JOHN POPE SAYING:
"I wanted to be prepared. This guy once came to my apartment at two o' clock in the morning with two armed police officers and an armed body guard, with their guns out, and swung a baseball bat inches from my face."
Pope had been living in the Philippines for 14 years, and was facing several other charges, including illegal possession of firearms.
A 66-year-old Canadian man opened fire inside a courtroom in the central Philippine province of Cebu on Tuesday, killing a doctor and a lawyer before killing himself, according to police.
John Pope, a retiree on trial for "malicious mischief and grave threat", pulled out his .35 caliber pistol minutes before the hearing began.
He shot the doctor who filed the case against him, and the doctor's lawyer, then left the courtroom.
While walking towards the lobby of a building opposite the court he shot the state prosecutor handling his case at point-blank range. The prosecutor was being treated in hospital.
Police said they then shot Pope in the arm, but he also shot himself in the head after falling to the floor. He died with gunshot wounds to the temple, arms and thighs.
In May last year Pope was interviewed by local network ABS-CBN, and said the case against him was rigged.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN JOHN POPE SAYING:
"I wanted to be prepared. This guy once came to my apartment at two o' clock in the morning with two armed police officers and an armed body guard, with their guns out, and swung a baseball bat inches from my face."
Pope had been living in the Philippines for 14 years, and was facing several other charges, including illegal possession of firearms.