Police have ‘confidently’ confirmed the identity of a man murdered in Salford after more remains were found as part of the investigation into a male torso discovered in a nearby nature reserve, with other body parts since located at another two nearby spots.
The victim, now believed to be a man in his 60s, was initially discovered in Kersal Wetlands after a passerby stumbled across the remains on 4 April, with police setting up a forensic tent and a large cordon around the area.
Having swept the surroundings and acted on further intelligence, more human remains were also found at Blackleach Reservoir in Walkden and a local dog walker also found a package containing body parts at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods on Saturday evening (27 April).
It is thought that the identity of the latest body parts should be fully confirmed this week following further forensic tests but the authorities have now contacted the victim’s next of kin.
#UPDATE | Following developments this weekend in #Salford we are confident we have identified the victim, with his family being supported since.
This is after further human remains were found, with two men remaining in custody for questioning.
The as-yet-unknown man is said to have died a number of days before his torso was discovered at the start of the month and multiple individuals have been arrested in connection to the case over the last few weeks.
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A 20-year-old man from the local area was brought in for questioning just four days after the initial discovery, along with a 42-year-old who was detained after he boarded a bus earlier last week and a 68-year-old who was arrested at a property in Winton.
Searches were also carried out at a Warehouse in Bury with household items being found there. Greater Manchester Police say they still have two people, both thought to be known to the victim, in custody.
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Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for the case, issued a full statement to the media this weekend, insisting that GMP are “very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
He also went on to reveal that authorities are also searching the house in Winton as it is thought to be “where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived”, with evidence also indicating that he is likely to have died there sometime in late March.
DSI Hughes went on to add: “While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation.
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“I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”
Drivers warned of ‘bad habit’ that could land them with £1,000 fines this winter
Emily Sergeant
Drivers are being warned of a ‘bad habit’ on the roads that could seem them hit with hefty fines as winter rolls around.
Once the temperatures drop, and the days get shorter and darker, fog tends to become a more common weather occurrence around this time of year – but an eye-opening new survey has found that most drivers don’t really how to use their fog lights correctly.
According to guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be used on British roads when visibility drops below 100 metres, yet the new research by eBay has found that 60% of drivers use their fog lights at the wrong times, and what’s more is that one in 10 say they switch on their fog lights when visibility is less than 300 metres.
48% of drivers who took part in the research admitted that they activate full-beam headlights when it’s dark, regardless of oncoming traffic and other road users.
Drivers are being warned of a ‘bad habit’ that could land them with £1,000 fines this winter / Credit: Nabeel Syed (via Unsplash)
The RAC says these stats reveal a ‘worrying trend’ among motorists, and have warned that these habits could actually means drivers are risking fines of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence.
If the incorrect usage of fog lights wasn’t bad enough as it is, the new research also found that many Brits say they do not stay on-top of regular car maintenance when it comes to car fog lights, either – with just 15% saying they check them every month, and shockingly, 24% stating they’ve never checked them before.
Due to the ongoing issue of headlight glare, in whatever form that may be, The RAC has found that as many as one in four drivers (25%) who find headlights ‘too bright’ are actually driving less as a result.
“Unfortunately for a lot of drivers, the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort,” explained Rod Dennis, who is the Senior Policy Officer at the RAC.
“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling.
“At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead, so there’s a balance to be struck.”
Featured Image – Robin the Bird (via Unsplash)
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Police investigation underway following ‘shocking’ arson at Marple Cenotaph on Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
A public appeal for information has been issued after a fire was started near a war memorial in Stockport on Bonfire Night.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is currently investigating after officers were called out around 9:50pm on Bonfire Night (Wednesday 5 November) following reports of a group of males near to the Cenotaph in Marple.
When police arrived at the scene, they found that a fire had been started in a bin and wooden pallets had been set alight – with the ground nearby having been damaged.
Neighbourhood officers in Marple are now investigating and are appealing for information in relation to this incident.
The incident has been described as a reckless act that could have ended with more damage and even serious injury.
“The Cenotaph means a lot to the community and incidents like this are deeply upsetting, particularly at a time when we should be honouring the memory of our war veterans,” explained Sergeant Rachel Walton, of GMP’s Stockport East Neighbourhood Policing Team.
“We are working closely with partners at Stockport Council and the fire service to ensure the area is cleaned and restored.
“We want to identify the individuals responsible, and we will have extra high-visibility patrols in the park each evening leading up to the Remembrance Day service on Sunday (9 November).”
This incident is just one of a total of 350 calls related to fire or fireworks that GMP responded to on Bonfire Night, which is said to be an increase from 203 last year.
A total of 27 arrests were made across Greater Manchester, with four weapons and hundreds of fireworks seized.
Danny Jones -
29th April 2024 
