Church murder probe police in appeal
DETECTIVES IN CCTV APPEAL
A MAN found dead outside a church was ‘kicked in the head’ in a brutal attack, detectives have revealed.
A murder investigation was launched following the death of Steven James McMyler on Thursday evening.
Mr McMyler, 34, was attacked in the gardens of Wigan Parish Church.
Members of the public found him lying on the ground. Despite medical intervention, he died at the scene.
Greater Manchester Police released images of a group of men they believe ‘may hold significant information’ about his death. The men are believed to have travelled to Wigan from the Merseyside area.
CCTV footage shows a group of men walking past a Chinese takeaway on Wallgate just moments before Mr McMyler, from Wigan, was attacked.
Detectives say the group had just got off a train at Wigan Wallgate station and were pictured at Southport railway station earlier that evening. They walked together into the church grounds where Mr McMyler was later discovered.
The men were then seen to leave the grounds via the gate on the corner of Crawford Street and King Street West.
Anyone with information about the identity of the men is being urged to contact police.
Officers were called to the church, in Bishopgate, shortly before 7.50pm. An air ambulance had already been sent to the area and paramedics attempted to treat the victim but he died at the scene.
Three men – aged 30, 19 and 18 – were arrested on suspicion of murder and an 18-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All four have been released on bail under investigation.
Det Insp Wes Knights, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “If you recognise the men we are particularly focused on speaking to, or you know any other details can could prove significant in our investigation, I urge you to do the right thing and get in touch.”
Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 4815, quoting incident 2974 of 06/08/2020 – or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.