PC Ian Dibell shooting death: Suspect got on train

Peter Reeve got on a train at Colchester Station about four hours after the shooting of PC Dibell

The man suspected of killing an off-duty police constable in Essex got on a train after the shooting, police said.

Peter Reeve, 64, tried to visit friends in Chelmsford about four hours after the fatal attack on 9 July, in Redbridge Road, Clacton-on-Sea.

PC Ian Dibell, 41, died from a single bullet wound to the chest after intervening in a row near his home.

Mr Reeve, of Fairlop Close, Clacton-on-Sea, was found dead with a handgun in a churchyard the next day.

Police said Mr Reeve got on a train in Colchester at about 19:30 BST on 9 July.

PC Ian Dibell was shot while intervening in a row

Det Ch Insp Simon Parkes said Mr Reeve went to Chelmsford and "tried" to visit friends and family in the city but it is not clear whether he succeeded in making contact with anyone.

"We then have no further sightings until we found his body in the grounds of All Saints Church in Writtle at 8:30 BST the following morning," he said.

"This was after a gunshot was heard. We need to find out how Peter Reeve got to Colchester and how he came to be in Writtle on Tuesday morning.

"We would wish to speak with anyone who put him up for the night or saw him sleeping rough."