Oxford: Reason for mass police presence in city revealed

Several members of the public reported seeing an entourage of police cars rushing through the city centre late on Wednesday morning.

Five police cars with sirens blaring were spotted racing down Beaumont Street, away from Worcester College.

This entourage was related to an ongoing court case with a jury trip taking place on Wednesday to visit the site of Phillip Breach’s alleged murder in Wood Farm.

Liam Jones on a bicycle outside the Atkyns Road shops in Wood Farm on November 28. (Pictures: Thames Valley Police). (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Prosecutors say Liam Jones, 44, was responsible for the murder of 59-year-old Mr Breach in the early hours of November 30, 2022.

UPDATE:

We can confirm Cowley Road is now reopened and our services are back on their regular routes. Thank you for your patience.

— Oxford Bus Company (@OxfordBusCo) February 21, 2024

The alleged victim was found on a pathway in the park between Wood Farm Road and Nuffield Road after 6am.

Mr Breach had walked from his flat in Bonar Road, through the park and onto Nuffield Road, before taking the cut through to the Cooperative shop in Atkyns Road.

Due to police activity, Wood Farm will be closed between 11:30 and 13:00 on 21/02. Due to the our City15 service will be unable to serve Wood Farm, services will divert and wait at the Warren Crescent Stop, Wood Farm passengers are advised to use this stop during this time.

— Oxford Bus Company (@OxfordBusCo) February 21, 2024

CCTV showed him returning the same way but he never made it home.

Mr Breach and Jones lived in the same row of flats in Bonar Road and it was heard in court last year that they were known to each other.

Jones is on retrial at Reading Crown Court this week and has denied murdering Mr Breach in Wood Farm.