POLICE have launched Huddersfield’s third murder inquiry in just 14 days.
Detectives began the grim investigation in the early hours of yesterday, when a man was found dead at Lockwood.
His body was discovered at Lockwood Park – a hugely-popular sports complex that is home to Huddersfield Rugby Union Club.
The victim was discovered near to a mill pond off Brewery Drive, a narrow lane leading to the 26-acre sports complex, which is also home to businesses including health club giant Fitness First.
A man has been arrested in connection with the death, and is still in police custody.
Insp Nick Dyson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Police have launched a murder inquiry following the finding of a man’s body near to a mill pond at Waterside, Lockwood, Huddersfield, in the early hours of this morning.
“One man has been arrested in connection with this incident and is still in custody.
The death is the third homicide in Huddersfield in just two weeks.
Four-year-old Ryan Hawkins was stabbed to death in Slaithwaite on September 23 and Geraldine Brocklehurst died from stab wounds last Thursday in the town’s red-light area.
The scale of the murder investigation at Lockwood was apparent yesterday.
The entire perimeter of the park was cordoned off by police tape, and there was a heavy presence of police officers standing guard near the park’s main entrance on Bridge Street, and up Meltham Road near Meltham Road Surgery and Fitness First.
The officers were still there late into the night.
Scores of shocked pedestrians and drivers passing by stopped to ask what had happened, but officers would only commit to telling them that there had been a major incident.
They turned away people wanting access to the park for sports activities, including a father accompanied by his young son dressed in a hockey kit.
Forensic experts in white protective suits examined the park, and at one point were seen concentrated around the crown green bowling area.
The green is close to the former mill pond, which is used by local angling clubs.
They were also seen examining the area outside the Norman Hudson Care Home, which is on Meltham Road.The entrance to the home, behind shops on Bridge Street, was sealed off.
A pathway near the entrance offered limited access to one side of the park. As forensic experts and detectives silently examined the scene, the babbling River Holme cast an uneasy sound in the background.
West Yorkshire Police’s helicopter roared above the crime scene as the investigation was stepped up.
Despite Lockwood locals knowing little about the horrors of what happened inside the park, one resident who lives on its outskirts, said she had been told there had been a murder.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “My granddaughter works at the nursing home, and when she went into work at 7am police were there and they told her that somebody was dead and they were treating it as murder. She and the rest of the staff were let into work.
“I have been living here for eight years, and I always hear commotion going on in the park late at night.
“I always hear a lot of screaming. I actually heard screaming last night (Saturday night). The noise is usually coming from the rugby club, because they hold a lot of functions there.
“I’m not surprised that this has happened, we get a lot of rough looking people and drunks round here.”
She added that her granddaughter said a handbag had been found in the landscaped gardens near the care home, which police were looking at.
Despite it being a sunny day yesterday, there were not many walkers venturing on to the path running up the side of the park.
Local Anthony Bywater, who was walking his dog, was not surprised to hear what had happened.
He said: “It’s happening all the time now, the violence is getting out of control. But it’s stupid how many murders there’s been now in Huddersfield in the space of a few weeks.
“I daren’t go out drinking anymore because I’m scared of getting attacked. That’s why I’ve got my dog, I take him everywhere with me.
“A lot of people are afraid, especially because there are no police round here.”
A worker at the Scar Cafe, which is opposite the main entrance of the park, said she had been kept busy since 8.30am serving breakfast to many of the police officers who had been dispatched to the scene.
A neighbour living near the Meltham Road entrance, who did not want to be named, commented: “I’m not shocked by what has happened, you have to be very wary round here.”
The horrible scene sparked massive interest amongst local people and businesses as they tried to piece together and make sense of what happened.
Regulars at the Red Lion pub said they had been trying to find out what had happened since they noticed police cars around the park at 6.45am.
Imran Safdar, manager of Lockwood Convenience Store, said he saw a dozen police cars around the area when he opened his shop at 7am.
He said: “I am surprised. There have been a lot of murders in Huddersfield recently, but you still don’t expect it on your own doorstep. It’s really shocking.”
A worker at Lockwood Taxis said his colleague had told him about the murder when he got back from his late shift. He said: “He said it was a man and that there were a few people involved. He said it happened near Fitness First.”
As people wanting to access the park yesterday for sports were turned away, a game in memory of rugby player Alex Prosser was also called off.
Hundreds of people had been expected to attend the game for the former Huddersfield RFC player who was killed in a road accident two years ago.
