Essex Shooting: Killed Cop Was A 'Real Hero'

A man who believes his life was saved by murdered police officer Ian Dibell said the shot cop was a "real hero" who had the courage to "stand between me and certain death".

"He lost his life trying to protect us," said 48-year-old Trevor Marshall of the PC.

"He paid the ultimate sacrifice to save me, just a normal bloke, a lorry driver."

Mr Marshall was shot in the arm and run over by 64-year-old gunman Peter Reeve on Monday in Clacton, Essex.

Reeve, a retired bus mechanic, was lying in wait for Mr Marshall and his 40-year-old girlfriend, Kat Karolak, when they returned home at about 3.30pm.

He opened fire on the pair with a handgun, forcing Mr Marshall and his girlfriend to flee on foot.

"I stared into his eyes and they were totally dead," Mr Marshall told The Sun newspaper.

"He wanted to kill me but I don't know why. We were terrified and ran for our lives."

As his girlfriend found refuge in a nearby home, Mr Marshall called 999.

Reeve, meanwhile, had stepped into his car and was trying to chase Mr Marshall down.

The gunman was then confronted by PC Dibell, who was off duty at the time, and another man.

Mr Marshall said: "I looked back and saw two men approaching the car. It turned out one of them was PC Dibell.

"He leaned into the car on the driver's side. I saw them talking for about 30 seconds. Then Reeve shot the PC from point-blank range from the driver's seat."

Mr Marshall added: "He probably saved my life. I can't ever repay that but I would like to speak to his family and let them know my feelings."

The Sun reported that Reeve was a loner who had become obsessed with Mr Marshall and his girlfriend.

He reportedly believed that the couple was involved in crime, and decided to kill them.

Police launched a major manhunt when Reeve escaped from the scene. His body was found early on Tuesday in a churchyard at Writtle, about 40 miles from Clacton.

The body - and the gun Reeve used in the shooting - lay beside his mother's grave. Officers believe he took his own life.