Murder inquiry seeks cyclists and e-scooter rider

Neve Gordon-FarleighBBC News, Northamptonshire
News imagePete Cooper/BBC A police car is parked across a footpath near a river. A police officer is checking paperwork with his back to the camera. Blue and white police scenes of crime tape has been placed in front of him attached to a metal bollard to the left and iron fencing to the right. A block of flats is visible in the background on the other side of the river.Pete Cooper/BBC
Det Insp Torie Harrison says the force is appealing for help to "piece together" the circumstances surrounding the death

Officers investigating the death of a man who was found fatally injured on a bench has urged cyclists and e-scooter riders travelling by the canal to come forward.

Northamptonshire Police launched a murder investigation after it was called to a footpath behind Auctioneers Court, Northampton, at about 06:30 BST on Friday.

Robert Brown, 57, was found on a bench and while the force said how he died has not been established, a post-mortem examination on Saturday found he had an arm wound.

Det Insp Torie Harrison, who is leading the murder investigation, said: "We are still appealing for help to piece together the circumstances surrounding Robert's death."

The force wanted to hear from any cyclists or e-scooter riders who were travelling along the footpath between between Wathen Wigg Bridge and Beckett's Bridge between 01:50 and 05:00 on Friday.

The force said over the past three days its officers, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit and specialist diving officers have followed up lines of inquiries.

News imageKate Bradbrook/BBC A person who is wearing a white protective suit, gloves and mask collecting samples near bushes. A nearby bridge is blocked with blue and white police tape.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The force is hoping to hear from cyclists and an e-scooter rider who may have seen or heard something which could help with its inquiries

Det Insp Harrison, said: "This is a popular route with people walking to and from work, and through our inquiries, we know there were several cyclists and e-scooter rider who were in the area near to where Robert was found.

"We still need to trace cyclists and an e-scooter rider who were seen in the area and would urge them to please contact us as a matter of urgency.

"They may not realise it, but it's possible they saw or heard something that could help us with the investigation."

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