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Bones may be man from Rochdale

1/ 1/2003

DETECTIVES investigating the discovery of human bones near Chorley are appealing for information from people in the Rochdale area.

Following an appeal made on the BBC Crimewatch programme, information was passed to the police that the dead man may have been from the Rochdale area involved with dealing drugs.

Detective Superintendent Mick Turner said: "Despite extensive appeals and publicity, about this case we still do not know who our murder victim is.

"However, we have information into the incident room that the man may be from Rochdale. The caller also suggested that the man associated with two men, also from Rochdale, known as 'Knobby' or 'Kuz'. We would appeal to people in the Rochdale area to contact police at Chorley if they have any information about who our murder victim is. Our priority and focus of the appeal is identifying this man."

The victim's skeleton was found in a pond in a field of Back Lane, Charnock Richard by a woman out walking her dog around 6pm on 26 July. He had suffered traumatic head injuries that were probably the result of a deliberate attack.

A computer generated image of the man's face was prepared by experts at Glasgow University's human identification unit, showing him to be more than likely of Asian origin. A life-sized model has been created at Manchester University to show what the victim may have looked like.

It is believed the victim had a deformity to his legs, possibly from a childhood disease and would have walked in an unusual way possibly limping or leaning to one side. He was aged between 20 and 30 when he died. He was between 5ft 6in to 5ft 8ins tall and of slender build.

Appeals for information have been made in Urdu, Gujerati and Hindi. Anybody with information should ring Chorley incident room on 01257 246 271.