'Hero' mum saved son from ex 'with explosive'

A woman killed in a blast in Bristol after her ex-partner forced his way into the house with an "explosive device" died while saving her son, her best friend has said.

Jo Shaw, 35, and Ryan Kelly, 41, died in the explosion in Bristol on Sunday, with police now treating Shaw's death as a homicide.

Three other people, including a child, were treated for minor injuries following the explosion.

Sammi Lee, who knew Shaw for more than 20 years, said: "Jo is a hero. When Ryan broke into the house on Sunday she got her son out of the way - she got him out of the house and out onto the trampoline so he was safe. She saved her family."

At about 06:17 BST on Sunday, police were called to the house in Sterncourt Road in Frenchay to what officers described as a domestic-related incident.

The caller said a man, whom they knew, had forced his way in to the house and was believed to have an explosive device.

The blast happened just after 06:30 BST, killing both Shaw and Kelly.

In a statement, Lee paid tribute to her "best friend" and "sister" who had been there at "every stage of [her] life".

"You weren't just part of my life you were part of my family," she said.

"You were there when my first daughter Sienna was born, standing beside me in one of the most important moments of my life.

"That's the kind of friend you were - always there, no matter what."

She said Shaw was "kind, loyal, funny, and selfless, even when life wasn't easy" and had made friends wherever [she] went".

"She also cared and looked after my sick sister," she said.

"She just always wanted to look after everyone and care for everyone."

Lee said Shaw's family were "beautiful, kind people" who had treated her like one of the family and "did not deserve this pain".

"This loss is not only heartbreaking for me, but for them as well," she said.

"I'm struggling to comprehend how someone so full of love and kindness could be taken in such a cruel way.

"It doesn't make sense and it never will."

Avon and Somerset Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over the incident, due to previous police contact with the victim prior to Sunday.

The force said the contact related to "other domestic incidents" between Shaw and Kelly.

It has also been revealed that Kelly was jailed for five years for his involvement in a 'Breaking Bad-style' drugs gang in 2015.

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