The mother of a parish councillor gunned down outside his home has said the family will “never come to terms with this evil”.

Cllr James Nash, 42, who sat on Enham Alamein Parish Council, was shot in the head in the front garden of his thatched cottage in MacCallum Road, Upper Enham, on Wednesday, August 5.

He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital where he was placed on life support. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The suspect, named locally as Andover man Alex Sartain, died in a motorcycle crash on the A343 a short time after James was shot. The 34-year-old, who worked at his family’s motorcycle garage opposite from James’ home had a criminal past and had been convicted of assault and theft.

His mother Gillian Nash, responding to well-wishers, said: “Very sadly I have to tell you James died of his brutal injuries today. His father, his sister and I are in a total state of shock and grief.

“We have lost a beautiful, talented son and brother and I know all who knew him would say he was the kindest, most caring person.”

She added: “We will never come to terms with this evil.”

Police have launched a murder probe.

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