Murder probe police release photo of wanted man
DETECTIVES investigating the kidnap and murder of a man who was dumped in West Lancashire with 75% burns have released a picture of a man they want to speak to.
Police shared the image of wanted man Kevin Wooden last week as the investigation reached hit one year.
Polish national Tomasz Samel, 45, was taken from his home in West Midlands in a white van by men pretending to be Interpol Officers.
They escorted him to the vehicle, a white Peugeot Boxer displaying the registration OY55 MVT, before driving away, at around 8.45am on 27 March 2019.
A t 10.45pm that day, he banged on the door of a property in Bickerstaffe to get help.
Suffering 75% burns, he was taken to hospital by ambulance but died in a specialist burns unit in Liverpool on June 21.
One year on, police have released an image of Kevin Wooden, who is wanted in connection with the kidnap and murder and are appealed for anyone with information to make contact.
They are also still trying to trace the van used to transport Mr Samel.
Two men, aged 29 and 28, were arrested last year on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to kidnap and a woman, aged 31, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
All three have been released while inquiries continue.
Det Ch Insp Scott Griffiths, who is leading the investigation said: “This was a horrific attack, and although these arrests were a significant development in our investigation, a year on we are still working tirelessly to understand exactly what happened on that day and why.
“As we approach the anniversary of Mr Samel’s kidnap, we have released an image of Kevin Wooden who we urgently want to speak to.
“We have reason to believe Wooden is currently out of the country and we are urgently appealing for anyone who has any information to contact us. “We’d also appeal to members of the Polish community in the UK to come forward and help us with any information they may have.
“It may be that people are reluctant to give information, but they can give us information in complete confidence.”
Anyone with information has been asked to contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands. police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.