Details of the Portuguese man murdered in an alleyway in Crawley, West Sussex, at the weekend, were still sketchy at the time of going to press on Wednesday and, according to news reports, the four suspects currently being held may soon be released through lack of evidence.
What is known is that the 45-year-old man came from Lisbon and had only been in the country for four days.
Manuel Santos, president of the Portuguese Association of Crawley, has confirmed the victim was not a local to the area (which has a strong Portuguese community), but the man’s identity remains under wraps.
Initial autopsy results show he was brutally attacked and died from wounds to his head, which he received “between 10pm on Saturday and 3.25am on Sunday when his body was found”, said Sussex police in a statement.
The ensuing murder investigation has identified four suspects – three men and a woman – all from Crawley, who have been helping police with inquiries since Sunday morning.
A judge extended the time the suspects could be detained, but Manuel Santos told Correio da Manhã on Wednesday that if hard evidence linking them to the crime was not forthcoming by Wednesday, they stood to be released.
