Five children arrested over assault and murder of 80-year-old dog walker in park
Leicestershire Police have launched a murder investigation (file photo)
PA
A group of five children, two as young as twelve, have been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly man was left for dead in a Leicestershire park.
On Sunday evening, the 80-year-old man was walking his dog in Franklin Park in Braunstone Town on the outskirts of Leicester when the attack took place.
Police said the man was "seriously assaulted by a group of young people" by the park's entrance in Bramble Way, who left the scene prior to emergency services arriving.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Leicestershire Police confirmed that the five youths - a boy and a girl aged 14, and one boy and two girls aged 12 - had been arrested and were currently being interviewed by officers.
The man was assaulted by the entrance to Franklin Park
The force said the victim, who is "believed to have been wearing a black jumper and grey jogging bottoms" when he was out walking, died in hospital last night.
Detectives are currently working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and are speaking to residents in the area to gather as much information as possible, a statement added.
Detective Inspector Emma Matts, senior investigating officer, said: "Sadly, following the death of the victim last night, this has now become a murder investigation.
"Officers are continuing to work at speed to establish the details of the attack, and we have made a number of arrests as we continue to understand what has happened.
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A closer view of the entrance on Bramble Way
"We still need people who were in the area to come forward if they have seen anything or have any information which could assist."
DI Matts issued a number of questions to potential witnesses, including:
- "Were you in the area of Franklin Park or Bramble Way around 6.30pm on Sunday night?"
- "Did you see the attack itself?"
- "From the description given, did you see the victim before the incident - or possibly a group of young people leaving the area after?"
She added: "A scene preservation will remain in place at the park while our investigation progresses.
"Local officers are also in the area carrying out reassurance patrols and can speak to anyone in the local community who has concerns."
Police have urged any members of the public with any relevant information to get in touch via the force's website HERE.
Leicestershire Police also added that it would be voluntarily referring itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) owing to the force's prior contact with the victim.