A mother who died in a grenade explosion in Frenchay, Bristol, saved a child's life by instructing them to play on a trampoline moments before the blast, neighbours have revealed. Joanne Shaw, 35, was killed after her former partner Ryan Kelly, 41, detonated a grenade on the doorstep of her parents' home on Sunday morning.
Neighbour Stuart Blanchard said he spoke to a witness who saw the child on the trampoline during the early hours. 'She probably told [the child] to go out there to get out of the way of them arguing,' he told The Mirror. 'I was woken to her shouting "go away, go away" and then there was this loud boom that shook my door and windows.'
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the two casualties were Shaw and Kelly, who had a history of domestic incidents. The force has referred itself to the police watchdog. Kelly had previously been jailed for five years in 2015 for conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of a Breaking Bad-style drugs operation.
Another neighbour, Michael Gwyther, said he heard a blast and thought someone was trying to kick through the door. Kwestan Ahmed described hearing screaming and shouting before the explosion, which she initially thought was a car crash.
A friend of Shaw's mother expressed shock, saying she immediately suspected Kelly due to his past. 'She was the loveliest, kindest lady and she didn't deserve this,' the friend said. Superintendent Matt Ebbs confirmed Shaw's death has been recorded as homicide, and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
