Ninth Arrest

A man was freed on bail today by detectives investigating the murder of a man during a botched robbery at his farm.

The man handed himself over to police after CCTV was screened on Tuesday night's BBC Crimewatch programme of a man officers were keen to speak to over Julian Gardner's killing.

Police arrested the 29-year-old, from Cranbrook, Kent, yesterday after he surrendered himself and he faced questioning in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

He was the ninth person to be arrested by officers from Sussex Police's major crime branch in connection with Mr Gardner's death. No-one has been charged with his killing.

The man has been released on police bail until January 28, pending further inquiries, a spokesman for Sussex Police said.

Mr Gardner, 53, suffered multiple injuries after disturbing intruders at Bush Barn Farm in Robertsbridge where he ran an agricultural and car repair business.

Detectives believe he was woken by a noise and set off to investigate, taking a shotgun with him, before confronting a gang as they ransacked his workshop.

His body was found by his business partner on October 11, with the killing believed to have taken place some time after 11pm the previous evening.

One theory is that the compression-type injuries he sustained were caused when he was crushed between two vehicles.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: ``The response to our appeals on BBC Crimewatch has been heartening.

``We received about 40 calls during the show, which prompted a man we were seeking to come forward.

``And the information has continued to flow in since the show via a large number of text and emails, some of them given anonymously through Crimestoppers.''