SIGNIFICANT SHORTS : Dunblane killer may have committed a ritualistic suicide

Gunman Thomas Hamilton may have killed himself in "ritualistic" fashion after carrying out the massacre he had planned for months, the 23rd day of the Dunblane inquiry was told yesterday.

The assessment was given by a forensic psychologist Professor David Cook, who said the way Hamilton took his own life - switching weapons to a .357 revolver, after killing 16 children and their teacher with a Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistol - had ritual overtones: "I would speculate that he formed the [suicide] intention before he killed the other people." The inquiry was adjourned until next week when evidence will be heard from one more witness and lawyers will deliver their final submissions.