‘There was a sombre mood as neighbours stood shell-shocked’
OUR reporter Dominic Smithers spoke to residents as police gathered evidence following the tragic death: ON ONE of the hottest days of year, you might have expected the greenland alongside Becks Lane to be full of children playing and enjoying the beautiful weather.
Instead a sombre mood hung over the area as police teams got down to the painstaking business of conducting a murder investigation.
Reams of police tape, wrapped around the branches of half a dozen trees flapped gently in the spring breeze, sealing off the site where only the evening before Ian Schofield, known to friends as Legs, had lost his life.
Some neighbours stood shell-shocked seemingly unable to come to terms with the tragedy that had occurred on their doorsteps, while a handful of children played oblivious to what had happened.
The area which is popular with dog walkers and children, was filled with police vehicles and squad cars.
Crime Scene Investigator dressed in white overalls made their way in and out of a small white tent, set up over the crime scene, and set about videoing the area.
Some residents spoke in hushed tones, as they stopped to share their disbelief with neighbours at the death of a young man so close to their homes.
And as the sun showed no signs of letting up, the police investigation continued into the early evening.
Neighbours described what they say is a quiet estate where not much goes on, but it is clear this tragedy will leave its mark for some time to come.
A NUMBER of tributes were left on the Macclesfield Express Facebook page in tribute to Ian Schofield:
DEBBIE Corbett wrote on the Express Facebook page: “So awful.
“My thoughts go out to everyone affected by this.”
NADEAN Mcdonald said: “Decent lad he was RIP legs x”
LYNNDSEY Hartley said: “So sad RIP l xx”
LISA Smith also wrote: “RIP Ian x”
KELSEY Peterson added: “RIP legs.”
MAUREEN Marsh added: “Sad news.”