Noises made in the moment a man allegedly shot dead his ex-wife, mother-in-law and pet dog in an execution-style killing were captured on a security camera.

Footage showing Craig Savage arriving at the house where Michelle Savage and her family were enjoying a Friday night takeaway has been played to a jury at Lewes Crown Court during his double murder trial.

Police found the bodies of 32-year-old Mrs Savage, her dog Zeus and her mother Heather Whitbread, 53, in the house on Bexhill Road, St Leonards, East Sussex, on March 16.

Mrs Savage had been shot about six times and her mother around seven times.

Her pregnant sister Raven Whitbread, 24, and 80-year-old grandmother Patricia Groves hid and escaped unharmed, the trial heard.

The recording, made by a camera near the front door, shows the 35-year-old arriving with a bag on his back and carrying something covered in his hand.

Craig Savage
Craig Savage is led into Lewes Crown Court, where he is on trial accused of murdering his ex-wife and her mother (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The court was told he smashed a window to break in and is seen emerging three minutes later “calmly” holding the rifle before armed police arrive.

He was arrested about an hour-and-a-half later.

Jurors also listened to the sounds captured by the camera when shots were fired, audio which has now been released to the media.

A smashing sound can be heard, followed by screaming, dogs barking and gunshots.

Benjamin Aina QC, prosecuting, said the audio recording depicts the moment Savage carried out the “execution”-type killing at almost point-blank range.

He said: “This is not indiscriminate shooting. This is shooting as you heard, and then gaps and then more shooting, and then gaps.”

Savage, a lorry driver, admits stealing the gun prior to the incident but he claims it went off accidentally during a struggle at the house after he tripped.

A 999 call made by neighbour Tyler Sergent was also played to the jury in which he reports someone breaking into a nearby house.

He told the police operator he could hear “someone screaming” and later adds: “Oh no, he’s leaving the house now. He’s walking out the house with a, a gun, is it a gun or a weapon in his hand.

“Looks like a, could be a gun in his hand, he’s got a gun in his hand. Yeah, got a gun in his hand, he’s going to the car park now, oh the police are here, he’s shooting, he’s shooting at them.”

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

The trial continues.