'Missing hours' riddle in murder hunt

Great-grandad Edward Simpson, 56, known as Teddy, was subjected to a "brutal and vicious" assault in his detached home in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke, and died of multiple injuries.

His body was dumped 12 hours later in a secluded wooded lane, close to the former Shirley Manor residential home, off Huddersfield Road, in Lower Wyke.

Police have yet to establish a motive for the killing of the well-known and well-liked father-of-four and grandad-of-seven.

They are desperate to hear from members of the public who may have information about what happened to Mr Simpson between his disappearance and the discovery of his body, or the reason why he was killed.

Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who is leading the investigation, said: "I don't know the motive for this, but I am sure there are people who do know why it happened.

"This was an absolutely brutal and vicious assault and he did not deserve that. He has a large family and I have met a lot of them and they are very, very distressed. The only thing that will bring them a little bit of comfort is to piece together what has happened. We need to put 100 per cent into detecting the murder, for Teddy and his family."

Mr Simpson lived in a large detached house with his car business premises adjoining it. He also had a stone sales business.

Police admitted he was known to them but declined to go into more details.

He was at home on Wednesday evening and police believe a number of men burst in, some time between 7pm and 8pm, and violently assaulted him in the house. It is thought weapons were used in the attack. When members of his family returned at 8pm he was not there.

His body was found, unconcealed, at 8.40am on Thursday, by two Council workmen on the lane leading to the Shirley Manor home, which is now used as a Bradford Council storage depot.

Det Supt Taylor said: "There were signs of a disturbance and a struggle in the house and he has then been taken away. We believe he will have been taken away in a vehicle.

"There was clearly a violent assault at his home. It is fair to say it was not an assault that involved just fists and feet."

Police are trying to establish exactly when Mr Simpson died. They are also studying CCTV footage from security cameras in the Sticker Lane area.

Det Supt Taylor said the victim was a businessman who worked very hard to support his family.

"I know from the phone calls we have already had that he was well-known and well-liked in the community," he added.

He said it was important to establish where Mr Simpson was in the 12 hours between him being taken from his home and the discovery of his body.

The police chief added: "If anyone saw anybody acting suspiciously near the home address in Sticker Lane at around 7pm on Wednesday, or saw any vehicles out of place, we need them to ring us. Has anyone seen him being put in a vehicle?

"Has anyone seen a vehicle going into the lane at Shirley Manor, or seen a body being dumped there? I need to hear from anyone who knows what has happened."

At Mr Simpson's car lot and stone dealer's yard, white boiler-suited scenes of crime officers yesterday continued to sift through potential evidence at the detached 19th century house.

The building appeared incongruous in the car lot cum masonry yard, the only other structure being a small portable cabin.

A solitary red flag flew above the yard, and in the window of the house a single red rose had been placed in a vase at an upstairs window.

Floral tributes had been placed by the police cordon.

One read: "To Big Brother Ted. I miss you so much, Jane".

On a second was printed: "Rest in Peace brother. I never stopped loving you, Big Sis Sylvia".

Anyone with information about Mr Simpson's murder should contact the HMET incident room on (01274) 373700, or text WYKE, followed by a message, to 07786 200806. People can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 08000 555 111.