25/04/2008

Hughes Pair Released Without Charge

Police have released a man and a youth arrested in connection with the murder of a disabled man.

The body of James Hughes, 22, was discovered at the family home in Loxley Close, Church Hill at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Hughes was reported missing along with his mother on Saturday.

It is believed that one of the men who was questioned was Mr Hughes' stepfather, Brian Kirby, 36.

Redditch Magistrates' Court this morning granted police a further 12 hours to question the pair.

A spokesperson for the West Mercia Police says that police had been given a 12-hour extension to question the pair on Thursday evening.

Police have confirmed that dental records were used to identify the body of Mr Wardle, who suffered from epilepsy and had the mental age of an 18-month-old child.

It has been reported that Mr Hughes's body was found hidden in a suitcase in a shed, but police have refused to confirm these reports.

The body of his mother, Heather Wardle, was found with a ligature around her neck in "dense undergrowth" on Monday evening. A post mortem carried out on Ms Wardle's body provided no conclusive evidence of the cause of her death.

Ms Wardle who had been described as a "brilliant partner" by Mr Kirby, had three other children - Daniel, 17, eight-year-old Callum and six-year-old Luke.

Superintendent Jane Horwood of West Mercia Constabulary said that a man and a youth had "co-operated fully" with their enquiries and that forensic examinations of the family home at Loxley Close were continuing.

Supt Horwood added that it is one of "the saddest cases" West Mercia Police has dealt with.

A team of 50 officers are currently investigating the case.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Redditch Police on 08457 444888.

(DS/KMcA)

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