A YOUNG mother held back tears as she told a court of the moment she saw her brother-in-law shoot her sister and mother at almost point-blank range with a stolen rifle.

Raven Whitbread, who was seven months pregnant at the time, told Lewes Crown Court Craig Savage also pointed the gun at her during the alleged “execution-style” killing of the pair at their home in St Leonards on March 16.

Savage, 35, is on trial accused of shooting 32-year-old Michelle Savage seven times and her mother, Heather Whitbread, 53, six times before turning the gun on his ex-wife’s Staffordshire bull terrier, Zeus.

He chose not to attend court yesterday.

Ms Whitbread told jurors that she, Mrs Savage, Mrs Whitbread and grandmother Patricia Groves, 80, were enjoying a Chinese takeaway at their home in Bexhill Road when Savage broke in by smashing a window.

The 24-year-old and Mrs Groves fled to hide in the conservatory with the family’s other dogs, Akira and Tifa, and called the police, the court heard.

Giving evidence by live video-link, Ms Whitbread started to cry as she recalled the events. she said: “Mum and Michelle jumped up and told me to run. Michelle went towards the window where he was coming through. I climbed over the back of the sofa and out of the room.

“I first saw my mum hand me the dogs – her dog and my dog Akira and Tifa – and I started to back out of the room.”

Then, she said, she heard her mother shout “Don’t you f****** dare”, adding: “Then I looked upwards and I saw Craig pointed the gun towards me. After she shouted at him, he aimed towards her and fired.”

Savage, of no fixed address, denies two counts of murder and possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.