Murder inquiry as body found with head blows
Police have launched a murder investigation after a body was discovered in a beauty spot.
Officers were called to Crisbrook Meadow in the Lower Loose Valley at 7.15am on Sunday after two dog-walkers came across the body of Razvan Sirbu, who had been beaten to death.
The grim discovery was made close to the public footpath leading up from Cave Hill, beside the Lower Crisbrook Millpond, in Tovil.
More than a dozen police vehicles and several forensic investigation vans attended and the meadow and millpond were sealed off.
Police initially said the death was unexplained, but reclassified the death as murder after a post mortem yesterday (Wednesday) concluded Mr Sirbu had died from blunt force trauma to the head and body.
The family of Mr Sirbu, who was homeless, released a picture of the 21-year-old to help the police investigation.
The Romanian national had been a visitor at the Maidstone Day Centre, in Knightrider Street, on several occasions.
It is not known exactly when he came to England, but an online video shows him driving around Gravesend in November.
At one point, it’s thought he was an agency worker for 24-7 Employment Solutions in Tunbridge Wells.
The Valley Conservation Society, which owns the meadow in conjunction with Tovil Parish Council, was due to hold a litterpick in the area on Sunday morning, but officers told the group to cancel.
Bryn Cornwell, chairman of the Valley Conservation Society, described the tragedy as “very disturbing” and “too close to home.”
Police continued to maintain a heavy presence until late on Tuesday afternoon, when the area was finally re-opened.
Maureen Williams, who lives close by, was one of the first to visit to lay flowers. Fighting back tears, she said: “It’s an absolutely terrible thing to have happened. We can only hope the young man had found some solace in our beautiful valley.”
Officers conducted a step-bystep search on Tuesday. No arrests have yet been made.
A police spokesman said: “We want to hear from anyone who may have seen Razvan Sirbu or was in the area between 4pm on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.
Call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting crime reference YY/011763/17.