£10k reward renewed over murder mystery
NEW INFORMATION HAS COME TO LIGHT SAY POLICE
A REWARD of £10,000 has been renewed in the bid to find the killers of Coventry men Daniel Shaw and Johnny Robbins.
The mystery surrounding the murder of Daniel in Tile Hill and the suspected kidnapping, torture and murder of Johnny took another turn last week when it was revealed that the two main suspects police are hunting may also be dead themselves.
Following on from an emotional press conference that saw the two families come together to make heartfelt pleas for anyone with information to come forward, detectives have now stated that the reward from the charity Crimestoppers is back on the table.
It had briefly expired having originally been put up in April, but has now been renewed and is available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved.
That information must be provided through Crimestoppers and not West Midlands Police.
The force has also stated that new information has been provided to detectives since last week’s appeal.
Daniel, 28, died after being found with a gunshot wound to the chest in Copland Place, Tile Hill, on March 25. As police began their investigations, they linked his murder to the disappearance of 33-year-old Johnny who had been reported missing on March 22. It is believed that he was kidnapped, tortured and then murdered at Daniel’s home in Torrington Avenue, but police stated that neither knew each other personally.
The details were revealed at the press conference last week at West Midlands Police’s HQ in Birmingham, when leading investigator Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mallett also gave the names of the two main suspects in the case.
They are Ryan Hobday and Ben Whyley, both from Coventry, and DCI Mallett said Hobday was wanted in connection with Daniel’s murder and Johnny’s suspected murder, while Whyley was wanted in connection with just Johnny’s suspected murder.
He said that neither Hobday or Whyley have been “seen or heard from” by anyone since March, and added: “We want to find them and we have concerns for their safety.”
DCI Mallett went on to state that police have received information suggesting that both suspects may in fact be dead. Police also said that new information has been provided to officers since last week’s appeal, but they are still urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
DCI Mallett previously said that the community of Tile Hill are “the key” to the investigation and said that police “will help” anyone who does come forward to “give evidence in a way that you and your family are protected”.
As they continue to piece together the pieces of the jigsaw, detectives have also released CCTV footage of a man who may have vital information. The footage shows him walking along Torrington Avenue, close to Daniel’s home at around the time he was shot on March 25. Police say Daniel was shot at his home before running away and collapsing in Copland Place where he was eventually found.
While the body of Johnny is yet to be found, DCI Mallett said they believe he was “taken on March 21 from a DIY store called Sheppards in Broad Lane and then ended up at Daniels’ flat, but had gone via the Lime Tree Park social club”.
Police also say that Crackley Lane is a place of interest in the investigation as a white BMW 1 series was found by the woods having been set on fire on March 22.
Johnny’s dog Rogan was also found in Crackley Lane “running free” the following day, while DCI Mallett said a number of people have also contacted police saying that Crackley Woods may be the place where Johnny’s body is.
He said the area has been “searched extensively” but his body has not been found.
The photos of the suspects – Hobday and Whyley – were made public last week and police said they were part of a gang that is involved in criminal activities, including drugs, and has “have a grip” on Tile Hill.
It was stated, however, that police were unable to draw any link between the group’s activities and the deaths of Daniel and Johnny at this point.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police’s Homicide Team via 101 or 0121 428 6127 or email opalydar@west-midlands. police.uk. Details can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www. crimestoppers-uk.org.