The girlfriend of a wealthy property developer heard a bang and found him dead from a shotgun wound to the head inside the burning wreck of their barn conversion, an inquest heard.
Roger Selway, 53, from Cardiff, was found dead at his luxury home in the former mining village of Ynysybwl, near Pontypridd, in April.
His partner – who has not been named – found him lying on his back after hearing a bang at the property on Tuesday, April 27. The upstairs was engulfed in flames.
Officers from South Wales Police rushed to the property in Ynysybwl at 7.30am following a report of a sudden death and a house fire, the Pontypridd Coroners’ Court inquest heard.
A pathologist found his cause of death was a shotgun wound to the head.
Detectives are investigating the shooting tragedy but confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious and are not looking for anybody else.
Roger Selway, 53, (pictured) from Cardiff, was found dead at his luxury home in the former mining village of Ynysybwl, near Pontypridd, in April
Mr Selway (pictured) was a property developer who lived at the remote home in the quiet Welsh village
Coroner’s officer Sharon Pugh told the court: ‘The circumstances are his partner was at home when she heard a bang. He was found lying on his back. The upstairs was on fire.’
Mr Selway, originally from Cardiff, bought the barn for £100,000 in 2017 and did all the conversion work himself, taking less than a year to transform the building.
He posted photographs of himself and his blonde partner – who has not been named – celebrating after moving in.
The pictures show the original stone work and exposed beams, a split-level dining room and extensive grounds.
He also built a one-bedroomed wooden cottage called The Coach House next door for his elderly mother to visit, according to locals.
The roof of one end of the property was destroyed by the intense flames after fire broke out at 7.30am on April 27.
His partner – who has not been named – found him lying on his back after hearing a bang at the property on Tuesday, April 27. The upstairs was engulfed in flames. Pictured: The aftermath
Forensic officers at the scene of the tragedy in Ynysybwl, Pontypridd, South Wales, last month
Mr Selway shared photos of his luxury barn conversion with friends on social media
The tragedy took place in the former mining village of Ynysybwl, near Pontypridd, south Wales
A statement from the police issued last month said: ‘South Wales Police can confirm that the death of a 53-year-old local man following an incident where a firearm had been discharged at the address in Mill Road, Ynysybwl, on Tuesday morning, April 27, is not being treated as suspicious.
‘An investigation is continuing into the circumstances surrounding the death on behalf of the coroner. Specially trained officers are continuing to support the man’s family.’
A statement from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust also confirmed it was called to support police after ‘reports of a person with traumatic injuries.’
Coroner David Regan adjourned the inquest and said a full hearing will take place on October 20, 2022.
A neighbour said: ‘I can’t believe it. Roger was a nice guy. He would always say hello and that when I was walking the dogs
Officers investigating the shooting tragedy last month. They are not treating the tragic death as suspicious
A police van and officers in forensic suits were seen at the remote property in April
Neighbours told of their shock after hearing about Mr Selway’s death in the quiet village.
Glynis Harries, 73, said: ‘It is so shocking. It’s usually very quiet here but there were all these police around.
‘I heard there had been a shooting up the road and I couldn’t believe it. There were all sorts of rumours going around.
‘I didn’t hear a shot or anything.’
Rebecca Davies, 21, said: ‘I know there were armed officers up there – 18 of them and the fire service.’
The property sits remotely in the small Welsh village of Ynysybwl, which has been rocked by the tragedy
The barn was bought for £100,000 in 2017 before being converted into a luxury home
Planning permission was granted in 2019 for a garage to be converted into an annexe
‘The fire was huge. The bedroom was completely gone.’
Ben Cummings, landlord of The Old Ynysybwl Inn, said he knew Mr Selway as a neighbour but that he didn’t visit the pub.
Mr Cummings said he saw a fleet of police cars heading towards Mr Selway’s barn that morning.
He said: ‘Roger was a lovely fellow – I don’t why this has happened.
‘He had his own company and that beautiful home, it was all going for him. I walk my dog past his pace and he would always stop to have a chat.
‘He turned the old barn into something special – it was real top of the range.’
‘Someone heard a gun going off so there were armed police everywhere.
‘There were fire engines going past trying to get to the place but it was well alight.’
Neighbours at the nearest property, a farm, said they didn’t hear the gun go off and the first they knew was police and firearms arriving on the scene.
Local gamekeeper Alan Fox said: ‘I was working nearby when someone said the place was on fire and that someone had been shot.
‘It’s bloody tragic – it’s a terrible thing to happen.
‘He had a beautiful place and had done a marvellous job, it was a derelict barn just a few years ago.’