A WEEK on from an alleged assault which may be linked to the death of a 50-year-old man in Oxford, police officers have renewed an appeal for information.
Officers were called to an address in Brome Place, Barton, on the morning of Sunday, April 24, following a concern for welfare for Peter Crowley.
Mr Crowley was found dead inside the property.
READ ALSO: Teens arrested on suspicion of Barton ‘murder’ bailed by police
It was subsequently reported that Mr Crowley had been assaulted the previous evening at about 9.30pm, near to the shops in Underhill Circus.
It was reported that Mr Crowley was punched and kicked, and fell to the ground, but he did not seek medical attention or report this to police, and was taken home by friends.
A week on from the original incident, Thames Valley Police is reappealing to anybody who was in the area of Underhill Circus last Saturday evening to contact the force if they witnessed anything which could assist the investigation.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Mike Roddy of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit said: “This is a complex case and we are still looking to ascertain the cause of Peter’s death.
“We believe from reports that he was seriously assaulted the previous evening, and have arrested two juveniles on suspicion of murder.
“They have both been released on conditional bail while our enquiries continue.
“I would urge anybody who believes that they may have witnessed an assault at around 9.30pm on Saturday to please get in touch with police, if you have not already done so.
“If you have CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage of the incident, we would be particularly keen to hear from you.
“Peter’s family continues to be supported by specially trained officers at this extremely difficult time, and we are committed to piecing together the events that have led to his tragic death.”
Local policing area commander for Oxford city, Superintendent Bruce Riddell, added: “This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with Peter’s family and friends.
“Our Major Crime Unit is investigating the circumstances thoroughly, and there have been a number of lines of enquiry.
“I know that this incident caused concern in the Barton community, but I would again reassure everyone that we do believe this incident is an isolated one and not linked to any previous incidences of violent-relating crime in the area.
“We are working closely with partners to provide reassurance to the local community, and there is a continued presence of officers in the area, and they will be visible and available to address any concerns you may have.
“I would again ask the community to please not speculate as to the original incident or the cause of Peter’s death.
READ MORE: Forensics officers search Barton flat in connection with ‘murder’
“A Home Office post-mortem was inconclusive, and enquiries continue at pace so that we can ascertain the full circumstances.
“I would like to thank those members of the community who have already come forward with information.
“As a tight-knit and strong community, I know that the investigation team and all of our officers and staff are grateful for the information provided already.
“If you haven’t yet spoken to police, please do get in touch, either online, or by calling 101, quoting incident reference 858 of 24 April.
“You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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