Murder police view 1000 hours of CCTV footage

Friday 19 October 2012

Detectives investigating the brutal murder of a frail pensioner in his own home are trawling through more than 1,000 hours of CCTV footage.

Robert Simpson, who was known as Ronnie, suffered serious head injuries during the attack in Mayfield Drive, Armadale, West Lothian.

He was found dead at the property at about 9pm on October 6.

Police were called to a disturbance at the 67-year-old's home at about 10pm the night before, where there were reports of shouting coming from within the property.

Officers attended and found it in darkness, with no answer and "no signs of anything untoward".Two weeks on, Lothian and Borders Police have renewed their appeal for information, and said they are still trying to establish a motive for the murder.The force, which has more than 40 officers following up possible lines of inquiry, is currently working through 245 pieces of evidence, 170 witness statements and 366 questionnaires completed by people in the local community.A total of 240 houses in the surrounding area have been visited during door-to-door inquiries and 27 cars have been stopped and their drivers spoken to.More than 40 hours of CCTV footage has been viewed by specially trained officers at an incident room set up at Livingston Police Office, with around 1,000 more to go.Detective Constable Gary Harrison, who has been looking at the footage, said: "We've seized a large number of CCTV from a number of premises in the area, from businesses and domestic properties and also from buses in the area."We then bring it back to this viewing suite and start the process of going through it."It's a long process as we have to make sure nothing is missed, there's got to be attention to detail."We have in excess of 1,000 hours so it will take a while as it often has to be slowed down and we make notes throughout."Detective Superintendent Bob Cowper, who is leading the investigation, said: "This can obviously not be done overnight. It is a long, laborious process, and we hope by process of elimination that we will find the killer or killers of Ronnie Simpson."We are keeping an open mind at this stage."It's hard to imagine what the motive may have been for the murder of a frail pensioner and vulnerable member of the community."At this moment in time we are not ruling any possible motive out."Mr Simpson was previously described as a small, frail man who walked with a stick and would have been "unable to defend himself".The last confirmed sighting of him was on Wednesday October 3, three days before he was found murdered, but police are following up a number of confirmed sightings of him on the Thursday and Friday.Mr Cowper said Mr Simpson was a "well known sight in Armadale".The detective said: "He would be seen on a daily basis going from his house to the bookmakers, shops or local pub."He never really ventured further than that as he had mobility issues, so he wasn't the sort of person who would go anywhere in a hurry."He lived a very methodical, quiet life and kept himself to himself which obviously makes this all the more puzzling about what the motive may be."In the days after Mr Simpson's murder, it emerged that his son Ross, 31, was the victim of an attack in nearby Polbeth the night before his father was found dead.Two men were charged with assault and appeared at Livingston Sheriff Court last week.Mr Cowper said that while there was no apparent link between the attacks on father and son, nothing has been ruled out.Mr Simpson's children, Ross and Kay, have said they are devastated by their loss.Crimestoppers have offered a £5,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of his killer.

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Murder police view 1000 hours of CCTV footage

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