Community in shock as arrest made after death
A MURDER investigation was continuing last night after a man was found dead in Neath.
Police officers confirmed that the body of a 66-year-old man was found at a property in Heol Catwg in Caewern on Wednesday.
South Wales Police have also confirmed that a man aged 38 was arrested on suspicion of murder. He remained in police custody last night.
The 66-year-old man is yet to be formally identified.
A police cordon was in place at the scene on Thursday.
Crime scene investigators and specialist search officers were at the scene, along with police sniffer dogs.
A white forensic tent was erected at the entrance to the scene and forensic officers in white bodysuits were seen entering the property.
Residents of Heol Catwg said they first noticed the police presence around 1pm on Wednesday.
They said it was a shock to see so many police in the area.
Witnesses described seeing two ambulances, a fire engine and other police vehicles at the scene.
South Wales Police said an increased police presence would remain in the area for the coming days.
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Darren George said on Thursday: “I can confirm a murder investigation is under way following the discovery of a man’s body in Heol Catwg yesterday (Wednesday).
“The community in Heol Catwg is close knit and I would encourage anyone who may have information in connection with the murder to please contact our incident room at Cockett Police Station using the following link, quoting reference 2200138869 https:// orlo.uk/yiddo
“We are particularly keen to hear from anybody who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in the area between 8am on Monday morning, April 25 and 1pm yesterday afternoon, Wednesday April 27.”
Bryncoch South Cllr Jo Hale said she had been talking to residents of Heol Catwg after being informed of the incident by the police.
She said on Thursday night: “I attended the crime scene yesterday in Heol Catwg and spoke with the police, who informed me at the time there had been a serious incident. But that’s all I knew at the time.
“Early this morning, Inspector Lindsey Sweeney rang me to give me an update.”
Cllr Hale said she was informed of the nature of the investigation and said she was “extremely shocked” to learn that this had occurred within such a tightknit community.
She added: “This afternoon, I returned to the scene at about one o’clock and spoke with some of the residents who are shocked and very concerned with what has taken place.
“It’s a very family-orientated area with a strong sense of community spirit, where the neighbours share a tradition of looking out for each other.”
Cllr Ward has liaised with police to set up a street surgery for those concerned by the investigation to air their concerns.
More details will be posted on the Residents of Caewern page at www.facebook. com/groups/799856740353856
One resident of Heol Catwg said they were returning home as the emergency services were arriving.
They said: “I was driving back home and when I was coming up the hill, we had to pull in for the ambulance to pass, and we thought ‘oh we wonder where that is going’, then by the time we got up here we saw there were two ambulances here.
“There was a fire engine, too, and then there were police, they were everywhere.
“They cordoned the area off, all tape around and I thought it must be bad to have that. And there’s been police here ever since. I’ve given three statements, twice yesterday and one today.”
Another Heol Catwg resident said on Thursday: “I was home because I hadn’t been well.
“I could hear sirens so I sat up and looked out of the window and I could see the ambulance and fire engine. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, what on earth is going on there?’
“So, they were all outside, the fire engine left pretty much straightaway. I thought maybe it was an elderly person because I wasn’t sure which house they were going into.
“Then I heard forensics were there and it all got taped off.
“It was around dinner time, 1 o’clock yesterday. I’ve never seen a police presence like it.
“It’s very scary because a lot of us have young children and it’s scary for them when the police come to the door.
“You get incidents but never anything like this, we’re all really shocked.
“If it was an area where bad things happened I would have tried getting out of here a long time ago.”