Eye Murder Inquiry - One Year On

23 August 2010, 17:09 | Updated: 23 August 2010, 17:38

Suffolk Police are renewing their appeal for information following the one year anniversary of the death of a pensioner in Eye.

73-year-old Richard Clarke died after being found collapsed on his driveway in Cranley Green Road in Eye on Saturday 22nd August 2009.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Major Investigation Team has carried out extensive inquiries and as a result of this work it is suspected that Mr Clarke was the victim of an assault which resulted in him receiving his fatal head injury.

To date the investigation has not been able to establish any motive for this attack, and detectives are reappealing for witnesses to come forward.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Luckett says, “A lot of hard work has been put into this investigation and it is frustrating for the Team, and Mr Clarke’s family, that a year on we still do not know who assaulted him and why. The inquiry continues to focus on the community in Eye, and I am confident that someone in the area holds the key piece of information which will help solve this murder investigation and bring some closure to his family following a difficult year.”

On the afternoon of Friday 21st August 2009 Richard Clarke went to The Horseshoes Public House in Billingford and left in a taxi. He stopped to pick up a Chinese meal in Eye at about 7 o’clock and he arrived at his home, Park Dale, at about 7.15 pm.

DCI Luckett picks up the timeline. “We think that Richard consumed part of his meal in the driveway of his home. A witness saw a male, believed to be Mr Clarke, apparently sat in his driveway holding his head just after 8 o’clock. It is possible he had sustained his head injury by this time. The next time he was seen was when he was discovered seriously injured in the early hours of Saturday morning 22nd August 2009.

“I want to hear from anyone who was in the area of Park Dale on the evening of Friday 21st August 2009. Whilst on the southern edge of Eye, this part of the town would have been reasonably busy with dog walkers, anglers who use the local lakes and other passing traffic along the B1077. I also want to hear from anyone who may have any information about what happened to Richard Clarke that weekend.

“These types of offences are extremely rare in Suffolk and it is only with the support of the public that police can gather sufficient information to solve these types of serious crimes. If you have any information that may help the investigation please call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.”