Three ‘may hold key to dog-walk murder’
THREE men could hold the key to the murder of an 83-year-old grandfather stabbed to death while walking his dogs.
The potentially vital witnesses were seen close to the spot where “gentle” pensioner Peter Wrighton was killed.
Police issued descriptions of the three yesterday as an inquest heard how Mr Wrighton died from knife wounds to the neck.
The body of the retired BT engineer was found in woodland at East Harling, Norfolk, at about 10.45am on Saturday.
He had driven from his home in Banham about six miles away to walk his two dogs. The devoted pets were at his side when he was found.
Chief Superintendent Mike Fawcett appealed for the three white men or anyone who knows them to come forward. The first is described as over 50, of slim build with pale skin and grey or white hair, balding on top.
He wore heavy glasses and white trousers and was seen changing into a white T-shirt. The second is between 25 and 30, 5ft 9in to 5ft 11in tall, of athletic build, with short, dark, wavy hair and dark eyes.
He has a tanned complexion and was wearing a grey or blue T-shirt, grey, floppy gym-style shorts above the knee and heavy-duty flip-flops.
The third is aged 30 to 50, of medium build and wore dark clothing.
Mr Fawcett said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have seen any of these men, who may not have been together, to come forward and speak to the police as soon as possible.
“To clarify, they are not suspects, they may be witnesses.”
Police yesterday released footage of Mr Wrighton taken on the day he died in the hope that it would “jog memories”. The CCTV footage shows him shopping at a unnamed local store.
He can be seen apparently at ease, dressed in a black T-shirt and trousers, carrying items he is buying to the till and paying for them.
The police appeal came the day after Mr Wrighton’s widow, Ann, 76, and her grieving family paid tribute to the “lovely, gentle husband, dad and grandfather”.
Mrs Wrighton, who was married to her husband for 59 years, described him as an “immensely kind man who never had a bad word to say about anyone”. Phil Moore, parish secretary of St Mary the Virgin church in Banham, said: “I knew him because he used to walk his dogs. He would always wave and we would stand and chat. He was a very quiet and gentle man, very kind and generous. He used to donate to the church food bank.”
Mr Moore said Mr Wrighton told him weeks ago that he had recently started taking his dogs to the woods at East Harling because it was easier to let them off the lead. Residents say the woods are sometimes used by drug dealers for secret meetings.
The inquest into Mr Wrighton’s death was opened and adjourned at Norfolk coroner’s court in Norwich yesterday. Coroner Jacqueline Lake heard how he died as a result of “incised wounds to the neck”.