Headmaster found dead after arrest for assault

THE head of a top school has been found dead days after he was arrested over a sex assault allegation.

The body of William ‘Willie’ Murdock, pictured, was found in a woodland close to Danes Hill School in Oxshott, Surrey.

The 60-year-old married father, who lived nearby, had worked at the £20,340-ayear school for 36 years but was suspended after his arrest this month.

Parents were told about his death and the investigation in a letter sent out by the school this week marked ‘private and confidential’. It said: ‘I regret to inform you that in the days prior to his death, Mr Murdock had been the subject of an investigation by Surrey Police and had been suspended from his role as head.’

A Danes Hill spokesman said that the allegations did not concern children or any safeguarding issues and added: ‘The police launched a criminal investigation into the allegations. Mr Murdock died before the police had concluded their investigation. That investigation has now been superseded by a coroner’s inquest.

‘In light of this, and the need to protect the privacy of those concerned, we are not in a position to provide further detail.’ Mr Murdock, a keen shooter and horse rider, was appointed acting head teacher in April 2006, and took up the role permanently the following year.

The Good Schools Guide says he was born in Northern Ireland, studied Latin, German and Greek and won a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Queen’s University, Belfast.

The school – which was rated excellent in the most recent Independent Schools Inspection Report – previously made headlines when Russian film producers Elena and Dimitry Lesnevsky threatened legal action against Bevendean, the attached pre-prep school. Their son Leon had to have the tip of his finger amputated after it was trapped in a classroom door.

Surrey Police confirmed the force was told of the allegation on February 5. The suspect was found dead on February 10.

A spokesman added: ‘The investigation into his death remains ongoing but it is not believed that there are any suspicious circumstances or third party involvement at this stage.’