British ExxonMobil executive gunned down in assassination-style killing as he left Brussels restaurant

• Nicholas Mockford, 60, was shot dead on October 14 but Belgian police imposed a news blackout.
• Was shot three times, including once while on the ground
• Two men were seen running away carrying a motorcycle helmet

Police in Belgium are investigating the killing of a British oil executive gunned down in front of his wife in an assassination-style killing.
Nicholas Mockford, 60, was shot as he left an Italian restaurant in the Neder-over-Heembeek district of the capital Brussels.
The shooting happened on Sunday October 14 - but news about the murder has only emerged after Belgian police imposed a news blackout.
The ExxonMobil executive was shot three times - once as he lay on the ground - after leaving the Da Marcello restaurant in Rue de Beyseghem at around 10pm.

Mr Mockford was reported to be the head of marketing for interim technologies for ExxonMobil Chemicals, Europe, promoting new types of greener fuel

Gunned down: Nicholas Mockford, in the blue coat, was a British ExxonMobil chief who was shot dead after he left the Da Marcello restaurant in Brussels on October 14. He is pictured with the successful ExxonMobil sailing team following a race last year

His wife, Mary, was left beaten and covered in blood, cradling her husband and shouting for help, according to reports. Mr Mockford died on the way to hospital.
Witnesses said they saw the couple walk across the street to their silver Lexus car before shots were fired.
According to reports, two men were seen running away carrying a motorcycle helmet after the sudden attack.

The Belgian prosecutor’s office said last night a ‘judicial instruction’ had been ordered by the investigating judge, Martine Quintin, meaning ‘no explanation’ and details about the killing could be released.
A spokesman said: ‘This is usual in such a serious murder investigation.’
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said last night: ‘We can confirm the death of a British national on October 14 in Brussels and we are providing consular assistance.’
It is understood Mr Mockford was the head of marketing for interim technologies for ExxonMobil Chemicals, Europe, promoting new types of greener fuel.
He had worked for the company since the 1970s and had been married to his second wife, who is Belgian, for 15 years.

Scene: Mr Mockford was comforted by his wife Mary outside the restaurant. She was beaten and left covered in blood

Mr Mockford was brought up in Leicestershire and had last lived in this country in Chichester, but had been abroad for some years, mostly in Belgium and Singapore.
He had three grown-up children from his first marriage, all of whom live in Britain.
Mr Mockford, described as a Marketing Technical Support Manager, Intermediates Technology in 2010, is believed to have given a presentation in in China at the ExxonMobil Chemical Shanghai Technology Center.
A spokesman for ExxonMobil said: ‘We are shocked by the tragic death of one of our employees on Sunday, October 14 in Brussels.
‘Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues and we are supporting them as best we can at this very difficult time.’
A relative told The Daily Telegraph he believed Mr Mockford had been killed in a professional hit.
Mary Mockford is recovering from the ordeal and had not been badly hurt, he said.
‘We are all confused about what has happened. Nick was a genuinely lovely, clean-cut, mild mannered, family man.
‘I don’t think he would put up a fight or argue with someone trying to steal his company car.
‘He was shot so calmly and so quickly, it smacks horribly of a professional hit, but we can’t fathom why.
‘He isn’t the type to cave in to blackmail and it just doesn’t compute.’

Map showing Brussels airport, ExxonMobil HQ and the Needer-Over-Heembeek district of Brussels. The executive was shot three times after leaving the Da Marcello restaurant in Rue de Beyseghem at around 10pm