Murder inquiry seeks cyclists and e-scooter rider

A police car is parked across a footpath near a river. A police officer is checking paperwork with his back to the camera. Blue and white police scenes of crime tape has been placed in front of him attached to a metal bollard to the left and iron fencing to the right. A block of flats is visible in the background on the other side of the river.Image source, Pete Cooper/BBC
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Det Insp Torie Harrison says the force is appealing for help to "piece together" the circumstances surrounding the death

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Officers investigating the death of a man who was found fatally injured on a bench has urged cyclists and e-scooter riders travelling by the canal to come forward.

Northamptonshire Police launched a murder investigation after it was called to a footpath behind Auctioneers Court, Northampton, at about 06:30 BST on Friday.

Robert Brown, 57, was found on a bench and while the force said how he died has not been established, a post-mortem examination on Saturday found he had an arm wound.

Det Insp Torie Harrison, who is leading the murder investigation, said: "We are still appealing for help to piece together the circumstances surrounding Robert's death."

The force wanted to hear from any cyclists or e-scooter riders who were travelling along the footpath between between Wathen Wigg Bridge and Beckett's Bridge between 01:50 and 05:00 on Friday.

The force said over the past three days its officers, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit and specialist diving officers have followed up lines of inquiries.

A person who is wearing a white protective suit, gloves and mask collecting samples near bushes. A nearby bridge is blocked with blue and white police tape.Image source, Kate Bradbrook/BBC
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The force is hoping to hear from cyclists and an e-scooter rider who may have seen or heard something which could help with its inquiries

Det Insp Harrison, said: "This is a popular route with people walking to and from work, and through our inquiries, we know there were several cyclists and e-scooter rider who were in the area near to where Robert was found.

"We still need to trace cyclists and an e-scooter rider who were seen in the area and would urge them to please contact us as a matter of urgency.

"They may not realise it, but it's possible they saw or heard something that could help us with the investigation."

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