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Police appeal for information on murder of 21-year-old Rochdale man as victim is named

21-year-old Liam Richardson was murdered in Rochdale in the early hours of 3 October 2022.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 13th October 2022

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is appealing for information after a man was murdered in Rochdale in the early hours of the morning last week.

The man has now been officially identified and named as 21-year-old Liam Richardson.

Liam’s body was found following reports of a disturbance at an address on Industry Road during the early hours of the morning on 3 October 2023, before a second incident occurred at around 4am on the same morning on Norton Road.

A third incident happened at just before 6:30am on Gale Street, also in Rochdale, where the suspect was then detained.

Now, over a week following the shocking incident, the suspect – who has been named as 36-year-old Kieron Oldham – has been charged with Liam’s murder.

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He has also been charged with affray and two counts of false imprisonment.

“We would like to express that our thoughts are with Liam’s family and friends at this sad time and we are asking that their privacy is respected to allow them the time to grieve and come to terms with their huge loss,” said Detective Inspector Rachel Smith.

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GMP has confirmed that Mr Oldham has been remanded in custody, and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on 13 March 2023.

But now, a public appeal for information has been issued.

Police are now appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the three incidents, and therefore may have information that could aid in ongoing investigations, to get in touch with officers.

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DI Smith added: “We are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward to help with our investigation [and] this includes CCTV, dashcam, Ring doorbell and mobile phone footage that may have captured any of these incidents. 

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GMP’s Major Incident Team can be contacted on 0161 856 8751, or you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Any relevant information and footage can also be uploaded to the public portal here.

Featured Image – GMP

News

The Makers Market is coming back to Cutting Room Square every month as of this Sunday

Danny Jones Danny Jones Makers Market Cutting Room Square Ancoats

The North West’s hugely popular Makers Market is returning to Ancoat’s Cutting Room Square as of this weekend, marking the start of a monthly community staple.

While Makers Markets have been popping up around the region for years now — Stockport, Cheadle, Salford and Media City; Knutsford, Northern Quarter, Didsbury, Congleton and countless other locations — it’s only ever been at Cutting Room Square just the once as part of a trial run back in November 2022.

However, after going down an absolute treat and just as popular as all the others around Greater Manchester and beyond, the organisers have decided to bring it back on a permanent basis from this weekend onwards. Ancoats just got even better.

Now, as of Sunday, 2 April, city centre residents and those travelling into town will be able to enjoy a regular community market packed with local traders from all over every month. Wonderful stuff.

If for some reason you’ve never come across a Makers Market before, the concept is pretty simple: local businesses and indie traders of all different kinds gather in public spaces like Cutting Room Square, setting up pop-up stalls to sell their wares, whatever they may be.

Whether it’d be homemade food and bakery items, handcrafted prints and textiles, or homeware, second-hand records, flowers and everything in between, there is literally always something for everyone.

More importantly, though, these monthly markets aren’t just another place to shop locally and responsibly, but they genuinely provide a wonderful sense of community, quickly cementing themselves as a regular staple for everyone to look forward to and socialise at.

That’s what we like to hear.

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Typically taking place on the second Sunday of every month and with Cutting Room Square and Ancoats already a popular district for locals and tourists alike, we’re sure the atmosphere is going to be great.

You’ve also got the successful Ancoats Pop Up events scattered throughout the rest of the 2023 calendar too — happy days.

We look forward to a year filled with plenty more markets all around Greater Manchester!

You can check out the full list of traders that will be appearing at this weekend’s Makers Market at Cutting Room Square HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Makers Market

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Graeme Park thanks fans for ‘valued support’ and launches fundraiser in memory of late son

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Graeme Park has thanked fans for their “valued support” following the devastating passing of his teenage son last week.

The former Hacienda legend and his family have also set up a fundraiser in his memory.

The DJ took to social media last week to share the heartbreaking news that his “true warrior” son Oliver had passed away at the age of 18 after a year-long battle with a rare cancer.

In a tribute to the late teenager, Graeme described his son as a “kind, loving, and beautiful soul” who “fought so hard until the very end” but was sadly taken “far too soon” when he “had so much more love to offer to this world”.

Graeme’s initial post drew in thousands of messages of love and support from the Greater Manchester music and entertainment community and beyond, as well as from famous name including from Vernon Kay, Sacha Lord, and DJ Paulette.

He asked fans to “bear with me” and confirmed that he will not be performing DJ sets or appearing on the radio for the time being.

Graeme with his wife Jen and twins Oliver and Ben / Credit: Graeme Park (via Instagram)

Now, a week after sharing the news of Oliver’s passing, Graeme, his wife Jen, and son Ben have taken the time to thank everyone for their “wonderful and valued support” – adding that the family is “heartbroken” to have lost a son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.

“Your messages and kind words have been well received and have offered us all some much needed strength and hope at what has been a very difficult time,” Graeme continued.

“Friends, colleagues, fans, followers and complete strangers have all been in touch in person, via phone, email and social media offering support and more, and it really has been heartwarming to read all the messages and to listen to everyone who’s called.

“Apologies if I’ve not responded to everyone, but rest assured we all really do appreciate the sentiment.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Oliver and Ben / Credit: Graeme Park (via JustGiving)

Graeme also confirmed that, after lots of discussion following so many reaching out and asking if there’s anything they can do to help, the family has decided to set up a JustGiving page in Oliver’s memory to help raise “much needed funds and awareness” for Sarcoma UK.

Sarcoma UK is a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer, and campaigns for better treatments.

“After complaining of leg pain over a long period, Oliver was eventually diagnosed as having a malignant nerve sheath tumour that was a type of sarcoma, hence our decision to help Sarcoma UK,” Graeme explained.

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat – “but by donating in memory of Oliver, you can help change this.”

“Your donation will help researchers find answers, keep the specialist Support Line open, and raise awareness to improve treatment and standards of care,” Graeme concluded, “Your donations go so far in helping the sarcoma community.”

Over 200 people have already donated to the JustGiving fundraiser, with the total now at £6,900 and counting by the minute.

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If you’d like to support, help, or donate in memory of Oliver, you can do so here.

Featured Image – Graeme Park

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