Police murder probe after ‘incident’ leaves man dead
SUSPECT, 34, ARRESTED
AS police officers carried out doorto-door inquiries in a quiet Blyth estate, neighbours were shocked to come home to a murder investigation.
Northumbria Police confirmed a probe into the death of a man in his 40s was under way.
The man – who has yet to be named – died at the scene of an incident in Duke’s Gardens in the Northumberland town in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Police said his injuries were consistent with having been attacked with a bladed article.
His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported, while a man, 34, has been arrested and remains in police custody on suspicion of murder.
A police cordon remained in place at the stretch of Duke’s Gardens between King’s Gardens and Queen’s Gardens yesterday evening.
Dave, a neighbour living not far from the scene of the incident told The Chronicle: “I don’t think many, if anyone, heard a single thing. I slept right through it.
“I’ve seen the police statement and its seems this was between people who knew each other.
“I wouldn’t say we’re particularly scared but we will be a bit careful tonight to make sure the doors and windows are locked.” Another female neighbour said: “It must have been not long after three in the morning.
“I couldn’t see anything but I could hear shouting.
“It was before the police got here. I’ve been here 40 years – it used to be a lovely quiet estate but things are changing.”
Adding that the local residents’ association had offered support to those living on the estate in light of the incident, she said: “It’s very worrying, I worry about my grandson. It’s not the first time we’ve had issues here.”
Another elderly neighbour said: “It’s very sad, It’s not great to have on your doorstep but what can you do? It’s a quiet and peaceful estate.”
Walking his dog, another man said he knew the victim’s family. He added: “It’s definitely such a shock. It’s not every day that something like this happens here.
“I think it’s reflective of the climate at the minute, throughout the whole of England.
“It’s not nice at all and it’s a life gone. Horrible.”
Another woman said she had come to her door having seen the police, and even hoped it might be filming for TV show Vera, and was saddened to see this was a real-life crime scene, while a young couple spoke of their shock at seeing the police converge yards from their
We will be a bit careful tonight to make sure the doors and windows are locked
Dave, neighbour
front door. “Obviously it’s just awful,” they said.
Further down the road, a local mum said that though she had heard sirens overnight, it was only when she returned home from work late in the day that she understood what had happened.
“I only really heard sirens. I was up at about 4.15 and just heard what was going on at the end of the street,” she said.
“It was only later in the afternoon I realised what had happened when my daughter told me. It’s usually a
quiet street – really relaxed and children would usually be playing out on a day like this.”
Det Insp David Johnson of Northumbria Police, said: “This is clearly a serious incident that happened in the street and which has resulted in a man’s death.
“We are determined to find out exactly what happened and a full investigation is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We have arrested one man who will be assisting our investigation throughout the day, and officers remain in the area to carry out a range of enquiries and offer any reassurance to the public.
“At this early stage, we believe all parties to have been known to each other and there is no wider threat to the public.”
He asked for anyone who saw anything in the area during the early hours of Tuesday to come forward and contact the police – either by using the “Tell Us Something” page of the force’s website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20220802-0107.