DETECTIVES questioning two people about the murder of a wealthy
businessman believe he might have been the victim of a contract killing
by a disgruntled business associate.
Mr Kenneth Brown, 56, originally from Falkirk, who owned a string of
hotels and nightclubs, was found shot dead in the grounds of his
mansion.
His friends have told police he had probably made enemies over the
years as he built up his business empire.
A cleaner discovered his body, which had a single
gunshot wound to the chest, in a chicken coop on Friday in
the grounds of the secluded house at Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire.
It was believed Mr Brown could have been dead for up to 12 hours.
Police believe another possibility is that he might have known his
killer.
Leicestershire Police said yesterday: ''We are still keeping an open
mind as to all possibilities.''
Forensic scientists spent the weekend combing the nine-acre grounds of
the house.
The property has remote-controlled iron gates and is surrounded by
high fencing and trees.
Staff at the mansion have been helping police to build up a detailed
picture of the dead man's lifestyle.
Detectives particularly want to trace former and current business
associates of Mr Brown.
Police said later that Mr Brown had made a telephone call at around
8pm on Thursday evening, when everything appeared to be normal.
However, a business associate who was expecting Mr Brown to phone him
at 11pm that night told detectives he never got the call.
By midnight, he was sufficiently concerned to ring Mr Brown's home but
got no reply.
Detective Superintendent Dave Cox, who is leading the inquiry, said:
''This is an important development for us.
''We know Mr Brown would normally go out to the outbuildings about the
time it gets dark to put the chickens and geese away for the night.
''Given that his body was found in the outbuildings, it is possible
that he confronted an intruder between 8pm and 11pm on Thursday evening.
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