A woman who died in an explosion at a house in Bristol has been hailed a hero after neighbours said she saved a child's life by sending them into the garden moments before the blast. Joanne Shaw, 35, and her ex-partner Ryan Kelly, 41, died following the incident at a terrace home in the Frenchay area of the city on Sunday morning.
Police were called to reports of a domestic incident at 06:17am, and the explosion occurred shortly after 06:30am. Avon and Somerset Police said the couple had a history of domestic incidents and have referred themselves to the police watchdog. Kelly, who had a previous conviction for drug supply, allegedly arrived at the home with a grenade and detonated it on the doorstep.
Neighbour Stuart Blanchard told the Mirror: 'I spoke to the guy who called 999 and he said the child was out on the trampoline. She probably told [the child] to go out there to get out of the way of them arguing.' Another neighbour said Joanne was heard shouting 'go away, go away' before the blast.
A friend of Joanne's mother said she instinctively knew the explosion involved Kelly. 'I'm afraid I just knew it had to be him because of what's gone on with him before,' she said. 'She [Joanne] was the loveliest, kindest lady and she didn't deserve this.'
Kelly was jailed for five years in 2015 for conspiracy to supply cocaine as part of a crystal meth gang masterminded by a 78-year-old man. The case was compared to the TV show Breaking Bad.
Superintendent Matt Ebbs of Avon and Somerset Police said: 'Jo's death has been officially recorded as a homicide based on the information known to us at this time. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death.'
