Body Found In Lyme Regis

6 May 2010, 06:08

Police investigating an unexplained death in Lyme Regis have arrested a man as part of their enquiries.

The dead man, believed to be 84-year-old William Kenely, was found at his home on Staples Terrace at just after 8am on Bank Holiday Monday, 3 May 2010.

Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, 4 May 2010, a post mortem was carried out at Dorset County Hospital, in Dorchester, by Dr Basil Purdue, Home Office pathologist. This showed that the man died from wounds.

Inspector Caroline Naughton, of Bridport police says: “The man’s death is still being treated as unexplained, as it is not yet clear how he came to sustain his injuries.

“However, as part of our investigation a 56-year-old man has now been arrested in connection with this incident. This man is now helping us with our enquiries.”

A Lyme Regis man alerted police of the man’s body via a 999 call at 8.18am on Bank Holiday Monday.

Police and ambulance crew attended the scene and a paramedic confirmed that the man was dead at 8.42am, Monday, 3 May 2010.

House-to-house enquiries were made in the Staples Terrace area and the man's home continues to be examined by investigators.

The body was conveyed on Monday night to the mortuary at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

The man, believed to be Mr Kenely, is understood to have a large extended family and officers are still in the process of contacting his next of kin.

Inspector Naughton says:

“An incident such as this is very unusual in the Lyme Regis area and I should stress that there is no sign of forced entry at the man’s home and I understand that nothing is believed to have been stolen.

“Safer Neighbourhood Team officers have been proactively meeting with members of the public in and around the Staples Terrace area. Officers are carrying out patrols in the area to reassure the community.”

Anyone who has any information regarding this incident, and is yet to speak to officers, is urged to contact Dorset Police on 01305 222 222.