Detectives ask for help investigating death of boy

DERBYSHIRE police are appealing for help as detectives continue to investigate the alleged murder of an 11-year-old boy in Heanor.

The team want to hear from members of the public who may have been in the Thorpes Road area of the town on June 18 to come forward.

Ambulance crews were called there that afternoon after receiving a report that the boy was injured. He later died in hospital.

Michael Harrison has been charged with his murder and was this week told he will face trial on January 12, 2023. Dressed in a grey sweatshirt, the 41-year-old spoke only to confirm his name at the hearing when he appeared over a video-link from HMP Nottingham into Derby Crown Court.

As well as the murder of the boy, the defendant, of Eaton Terrace, Mapperley, Nottingham, has also been charged with engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour against a woman, between January 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022.

At that hearing, Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: “It is very difficult to say what the issues are at this stage.”

Peter Joyce QC, prosecuting, replied: “The issue is likely to be causation, whether there was an assault or whether it was an accident.”

Remanding Harrison into custody, Judge Shant said: “Mr Harrison, as far as you are concerned your next hearing will be on August 2.”

Anyone who was in Thorpes Road or nearby at around 1.15pm on June 18, is asked to contact police in case they have any information which could be useful to the investigation.

Chief Superintendent Hayley Barnett said: “I completely understand that the tragic news of a young boy’s death has sparked shock and concern in the local community and that people will speculate about the circumstances surrounding the death.

“As is always the case once charges are brought, we are limited in what we can say due to ongoing court proceedings. I would, however, like to offer reassurance to the public, that we are treating this as an isolated incident.

“A judge has ruled in this case that the identity of the boy who died should be protected for legal reasons, so we are unable to provide any more information about him for this reason.

“The boy’s family are being supported by specially trained officers and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.”